"Disability isn’t a lesson in inspiration, but a reality that deserves understanding and meaningful support"
Aimee Prior, our Disabled Student Rep, gives her personal reflection of what the International Day of Persons with Disabilities means to her.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place on Wednesday, 3 December – a day often seen as a celebration of strength and resilience. But for many of us living with disabilities, it can also be a reminder of the daily barriers that can make simple things, like studying, much more complicated than they should be. For many of us, its not just about being resilient, but about constantly adapting to circumstances that most people never have to think about.
I’m the Disabled Student Rep here at the Open SU, and throughout my studies, I have often had to continually adapt the way I learn and appoach tasks. I live with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which affects the connective tissue throughout my body. For me, that means lots of chronic pain and fatigue, and a never-ending list of more conditions also caused by it. Writing or typing for long periods can be difficult, and sitting through tutorials can be rough. It has been hard to find ways that work for me, as my conditions vary so much from day-to-day.
Studying at The Open University has taught me that success does not look the same for everyone. Some days, simply existing is an achievement, which for some other people sounds crazy. Studying with disabilities isn’t always easy. There are days when deadlines will pile up, your body may not want to cooperate, and you must choose between resting or keeping up. I use lots of software and adaptive products from DSA (Disabled Students' Allowance), break tasks into much smaller chunks so I can pace myself better, and plan my study time around the ‘better’ hours of my day. I’ve also learnt to ask for help when I need it, which is something that took me a very long time to be comfortable with.
Sometimes, accessibility measures can work perfectly, and other times, they don’t. I think it can feel incredibly isolating watching others move through their studies with a level of ease that I don’t have. Over time, I’ve realised that overcoming challenges doesn’t always mean pushing through pain or pretending everything is fine. Sometimes it means resting without guilt, and finding different ways to reach my goals. The support you can get from the OU and Open SU is an essential aid to make things more manageable.
What really helps is honesty. Being open about what you can or can’t do, and what works for you personally. Talking to people that are willing to listen rather than make assumptions on your needs or what would help you. Small things like more flexibility with deadlines, having captions available, or having access to the slides in your tutorials can make a huge difference. They can’t always make studying easy, but they definitely make it more possible.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities should be a time to talk honestly about both sides of disability. The resilience, but also the frustation, exhaustion and constant balancing act of managing health whilst trying to get an education. For me, what overcoming challenges really looks like is doing the best I can, in a body that doesn’t like to cooperate, and still finding a way forwards. Disability isn’t a lesson in inspiration, but a reality that deserves understanding and meaningful support.