This week I face a new dilemma as a columnist.

I normally write as an independent disabled person, but now as an Access Adviser to Oxford University Estates Services, I find myself in a quandary. How do I express my anger at the opinions of Professor Gillian Evans whilst staying professional?

She claims that proposed changes to make the Radcliffe Camera accessible to disabled users are not necessary, stating: “It is perfectly practicable to allow these few access by the existing entry point on the occasions when they need it.”

I decided to Google Gillian to find out more.

I was shocked to see that she is herself somewhat of a campaigner. When I had first read the article printed in last week’s Oxford Mail (August 14) I had assumed she was some stuffy academic who wanted time to essentially travel backwards to preserve all that was good and great about Britain and Oxford. This is not the case as she appears to have tirelessly campaigned to remove archaic university protocols that allow discrimination to be hidden in the rules.

The reason she doesn’t see many disabled students using the Camera is that current students are required to send a request for materials to be sent elsewhere; whilst this allows access to material, it is not ideal and certainly not equal. The University recognises this and as such, the Radcliffe Camera is the one of the last buildings undergoing a transition to become fully accessible.

I am proud that so much time and effort has gone into turning the catalogue of Oxford University listed buildings into areas that any student can access, irrespective of disability. Oxford leads in teaching and research and hopefully we can lead in accessibility for disabled users too.

The proposed design is in fact very pleasing to the eye and actually fits with the original proposals when it was built, as this entrance was always intended to be the main thoroughfare. It will be subtly landscaped, virtually invisible, and looks like it could have been there forever.

Professor Evans claims to “prefer to look at fights for justice in the broadest possible way”. So why on earth would she be campaigning against increasing disabled access and therefore equality to users of the Radcliffe Camera?

Most revealingly is this quote when she was temporarily using crutches: “I just want to get back to normal life. I can’t ride a bike for six weeks! When the snow melts, I can get to the Bodleian in about 5 minutes even on crutches.”

For some of us normal life never returns. So Prof Evans, next time before you decide to air your opinions, perhaps look back at your own life and all the liberties you have fought for and be blessed to have had before criticising the hard work of others who are fighting for equality “in the broadest possible way”.