HE additional needs case studies

 

 

Qualifications and experience:

2004 Italian Conversation and Grammar and History of Art Scuola di Leonardo Da Vinci, Firenze

1999-2002 English Literature and Cultural Criticism BA, University of Cardiff, Wales

2000-2001 Literature, Critical Theory and Cinema Studies (part of my BA), University of Melbourne, Australia

1998-1999 BTEC Art Foundation Year: Fine Art, Falmouth College of Art, Cornwall

I have suffered from back pain for about seven years. Before going to university I was diagnosed with slight scoliosis of the spine.

How is the course going?

Visiting, working and volunteering at galleries has always been a major source of interest and pleasure. Eventually, I hope to work as a curator in a gallery. You need a postgraduate qualification in Museum Studies for this career choice and I was very nervous about coming to Leicester because it has such a good reputation in this field.

I was very anxious about being able to cope physically with the pressures of intensive study (as well as academically). In November, after only one and a half modules, I had a rather spectacular accident with a goldfish bowl and severed the tendons in my thumb. With the support of the department I continued to study in a distance learning capacity. Notes were photocopied and lectures were recorded and in January I was able to return to lectures (although I was still unable to write properly). I have now nearly completed my Masters thanks to the support I received.

With the support of the AccessAbility Centre at the university and my tutors, I have been able to balance my studies and what I can cope with physically.

Who and what have helped me to succeed?

I waited two years to get up the confidence to do this course. Despite the challenges I have enjoyed every minute of it. However, I would not have attained the level of academic success or enjoyed it as much without the support I have had throughout my course. My tutors have been very understanding and extremely helpful in suggesting flexible solutions to help me get the most out of the course.

The library staff helped me to establish a system to leave books behind the desk so that I no longer had to carry piles of heavy books to and from home. The AccessAbility Centre staff provided technical solutions, like voice recorders, and more importantly gave me excellent one-to-one support and help. I would never have been able to find such positive and helpful strategies to manage my studies on my own. I am really grateful. With the help of the university AccessAbility Centre in guiding me through the form-filling, assessment procedures and the range of options available to support my studies I have been able to obtain funding to purchase voice-activated software to allow me to produce assignments and learn different ways to study.

Any advice for other students?

Find out what help you can get at university or college – I didn’t and was amazed to discover in my postgraduate degree what support I could have really made use of during my years as an undergraduate. Don’t wait until it gets too much. Address any problems head on so that you have plenty of time to find out what strategies work for you. Talk to people, then you won’t feel isolated or overwhelmed and you can get things in perspective.

Last Updated: 18-Sep-2007