As a student with Crohn’s disease and a stoma bag, I found it difficult to transition to university from sixthform. I disclosed my disability to the University in advance but when I got to campus, I hid it from my flatmates and people I met on my course. I thought I was lucky my disability was invisible so I could fit in with other able-bodied students, but it got exhausting after a while so I tried to just be me.

Invisible or visible disability, I don’t think able-bodied people get it. So, although I went through the process of getting reasonable adjustments put in place via the Inclusive Support team, the able-bodied lecturers didn’t get it and neither did the able-bodied students. The lack of a community who understands disabled people can be isolating, and kind of boring when no one laughs at my poo jokes. Who would’ve thought disabled students also have a personality, their own hobbies, and interests too huh?

This is why we have events in place at the Students' Union such as the Disabled Students' Get Together and the Disabled Students' Forum; a chance to be a part of a compassionate community where you can say how you feel, and you might even find people with a sense of humour.

There's a Disabled Students' Get Together coming up later this week - Thursday 29th September, 4-7pm in the Union Cafe in the Students' Union building. It will be a relaxed, informal and free event to help build a community for our disabled students with games, music, food and information from Inclusive Support. 

The first Disabled Students' Forum will be on 19th October and is an opportunity for students with disabilities both visible and invisible to speak directly to University services about their experiences on campus to make positive changes which will help shape their University journey. You can join in person or online!