Lauren Tasker

For fifteen years of life, I was a non-disabled individual, whose only contact with the world of disability was a double-amputee father. I became a young carer at an early age, advocating for him and helping him complete daily tasks. Whilst I saw the challenges he faced, and was usually the one pushing for resolutions, I never truly understood how different it was. I am now an ambulatory wheelchair user with a dynamic disability that became apparent in the past five years. This led to me feeling very isolated due to a lack of understanding and inaccessibility. Ever since, I have endeavoured to educate myself about a wide range of disabilities by listening to the experiences of disabled individuals. Many people are upset and struggle to see the positives when they acquire a disability, which is a normal response to a life-changing event. However, I have tried to reflect on my life as a non-disabled person rather than grieving it, which has been a long process! My experience of acquiring a disability has made me a more thoughtful person, always proactively looking to solve problems.

Unfortunately, I experience a wide range of symptoms that impact on my everyday life; however, this means I relate to the challenges of many students on some level. During my two years at university, I have been noting all accessibility issues that I have encountered, addressing as many as possible with enabling services. Whilst it is possible that I could have worked around some of these issues with extra effort, they are just as important to me as I never want another disabled individual to face the same preventable challenges. I’m sure there are lots of accessibility issues that I have missed, which I am keen for people to share with me.  

Individuals with disabilities are not a homogenous group. Even people with a shared condition are not a homogenous group. There are common threads that run between us. I’m sure many of us feel a sense of anxiety, trying not to stand out and trying not to make a fuss. We might share a feeling of isolation or exhaustion at explaining ourselves time and time again. But whilst we may share some challenges, there are so many unique experiences that need to be heard. Disabled individuals are just that – individuals.

I have personal experience with neurodivergence, as well as mental health challenges, and have fought for the rights of family members to have their needs met. I aim to do this for every fellow student (a big aspiration I know!) Although much of my own experience is with physical and visible impairments, I aim to improve accessibility for students who are neurodivergent, have mental health challenges as well as those with physical disabilities, and will welcome any input. I would love to hear the experiences of other students, positive and negative, as I am only one person and there will be many unique ideas and issues that I feel passionate about addressing.