Fresher?

This is really yesterday's blog as I didn't have enough time to post it then. I've been thinking recently about doing another degree, I have a degree and a diploma, in midwifery and social work. I had to leave the social work course at the end of the second year due to relapse. The aim was to intermit really, for a year, hopefully give my body time to recover enough. But in that year I got pregnant with Niamh, so was never able to go back.

This time I am thinking about doing a degree through the open university, so really need to know if they are disability friendly? My last university (the one I did all my previous studying at) claimed to be friendly to those with disabilities but in reality that was rubbish. I can't even begin to list the amount wrong with it. The lecturers were really understanding but the set up was all wrong. In the first year for example, they kept placing us in a building that had lots of stairs and no lifts. I wasn't in the wheelchair all the time at this point, but it was often hit and miss and I was always on crutches. I actually had to be carried down the stairs a few times which was not only scary but very embarrassing. Despite being told I was extremely light sensitive they seemed to put us in the brightest rooms and I was actually asked to remove my sunglasses on multiple occasions.I never went in when I was in the wheelchair, not once, because I didn't want to waste my time going in to not be able to get to the lecture. It was just so badly set up.

I need a flexible degree I can do from home, that fits in around my disabilities and my child. Talk about impossible! One or the other maybe, but being a disabled parent must present them with one hell of a task. I was hoping to do something around creative writing as it gives me the best chance of being able to work from home, because lets face it, no one is going to hire me!

I was asked to mention in my blog, if possible, some tips I have for getting through uni, when you have M.E and/or Fibro, so here goes:

• Be up front, with everyone. Explain to the university that you have these illnesses, how they effect your day to day life and how they would impact upon your degree and your ability to study long term.
• Get reviewed by specialist teams within the university, to see how they can help you. Make them aware of all of your symptoms and how much your condition can vary.
• Get DSA, (Disabled Student Allowance) and makes sure that you are provided with the equipment you require.
• Explain your condition to those in your peer group, I find it much easier to be up front with people about my illness. I know many people keep it a secret, where as I prefer to explain to people, it helps them to understand (hopefully) if I'm not there for days at a time and if I am walking around one day and in a wheelchair the next. Also, I hope it would help to reduce the stigma attached to the illness.
• Make sure you have lots of support, from your university, your peers, you family and friends. This is vital, in my opinion.
• I have a Dictaphone, and I bought a second and gave it to one of my peers. This way if I was sick without warning (which lets face it happens quite a bit) she could record my lectures for me. I would simply send her a text if I couldn't come in and she would record any lectures from that day.
• I had a scribe as well, this was essential, as often when I made it to lectures my concentration would fall dramatically after about 40 minutes to and hour. My scribe wrote down everything that was said (with my peers permission) so that I could re-read it slowly over time.
• Take a computer. This was another essential thing for me. I often have problems with my joints, which can include my fingers and, although I am able to type (with a bit of pain) when my joints flare, I can't write at all.
• Take anything and everything you need to make your life easier whilst at university, sunglasses, ear plugs, anything.
• Try and live at home. I know this is not always possible, but being in a comfortable and restful environment really helped me. I don't think I would have been able to cope as well as I did if I was forced to live in halls. Loud, drunk and disturbing rest periods would not have been helpful to me. In anyway.

I think that's about it to be honest, there may be more and if I think of them I'll be sure to post them! I need to know from you guys, if the OU is any good when it comes to managing disabilities? Or parenthood?

Here are mine and Niamh's 366 pictures from yesterday. Me, my sister's car:

And Niamh, just chillin' watching TV:

That's it for yesterday, will write again later :)