Northern Ireland Trailblazers Inclusion Now campaign.

www.muscular-dystrophy.org 11
Lise Gagne/istock
Sean Fitzsimons studied Law at Queen’s University Belfast and a PGDE (post-graduate diploma
in education) at the University of Aberdeen. He shares his varied experiences from both:
It was very interesting studying at two different universities; it allowed me to see and
experience firsthand the strengths and weaknesses of each from the perspective of a
student with a disability.
“In terms of access, it was very much a mixed bag. At Queen’s I was based in a city
centre location, so parking was at a premium. Being provided with a disabled parking
permit didn’t always mean a space would be available, and this could make getting to
classes on time very difficult. This simply had to be factored in but it could at times be
stressful, particularly coming up to exam times.
“The University of Aberdeen had much better access and benefited from a modern
refurbished building, which made it much easier to get to classes on time. This
removed that constant panicked feeling and allowed me to get on with the work
of the day.
“A common universal barrier in universities is the buildings. I know Queen’s Lanyon
Building at points can be very tricky to manoeuvre around. Accommodation is
the other area I feel can and should be improved over time; a greater number of
‘disabled-friendly’ student flats would greatly improve the prospects for disabled
students to integrate with their peers.
“For the PGDE, I had to go on a number of placements and I have to commend
the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen who made a number of
adjustments for me in terms of location and accessibility of school campuses I was
to be working at. The close link that was maintained between the Faculty and the
Disabled Students Liaison Officer throughout the course of my studies was key to
my ability to partake in and successfully complete the course.
Common
concerns
n Lack of accessible
disabled parking.
n Challenges in accessing
buildings, particularly
older ‘listed’ buildings.
n No DSA funding available
for optional placement
years and work experience,
so disabled students
are at a disadvantage.
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www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Actions needed
n More investment in improving the accessibility of
university buildings.
n Consulting with and discussion with disabled
students to find out exactly what needs to be
done to improve their student experiences.
n More car parking for disabled students.
n DSA to apply to optional placement years, to
allow disabled students the same options as
non-disabled students.
TOP TIPS
START LOOKING for your
university one to two years
in advance.
VISIT AS many of your
choices as you can. Have
a good look around your
chosen university and
make a list of concerns.
WORK WITH the Disability
Advice team to iron
out problems.
DECIDE IF you would rather
live at home, on campus
or non-campus. If you
decide to live in student
accommodation, make a
list of all the equipment
you will need in your room,
kitchen and communal
areas and make sure you let
the accommodation and
disability teams know.
SEE AS many rooms as you
can before selecting the
one that best suits you.
MAKE CONTACT with the
disability support advisers
at the first opportunity.
DON’T BE AFRAID to
ask questions.
CHECK OUT the accessibility
of venues and bars before
you arrive.
CONTACT YOUR local
Education and Library
board for more information. 12