Things to think about when choosing a university:
Uni open days are approaching and I thought it might be helpful if I shared a few things I wish I knew when I first started looking! Have fun at your open days and as ever- feel free to pop me any questions over!
Do you know your access needs?
Understanding what your access needs are, be it physical or emotional access needs isimportant to help you thrive. Don’t feel ashamed to be open with your university about your needs and ask if certain accommodations can be made.
Brighton is a very hilly town and this was something I did not know before I moved here. My health has deteriorated over the past few years which we did not expect it to, which has meant I am now experiencing physical access needs with needing a powerchair due to the steep inclines across the city.
How accommodating is the uni?
A great way to work out whether a university is ‘right’ for you is to assess how accommodating you feel their disability department is to you. Knowing what experience they have with conditions similar to your own and how they dealt with students' struggles which may have presented due to their disabilities can help you decide whether you feel you would be supported well at a particular uni.
'That feeling':
People say you’ll have a ‘feeling’ when you know it’s the right place, and for some it’s true- I felt calm and at home being able to envision myself at my university. For me I had ‘that feeling’ for places I really didn’t like.
Speak to past students:
For me, I wish I had the opportunity to speak to any past disabled students about their experience. I guess this falls under two categories.
1) I wish there was an opportunity or a space for prospective disabled students at my university to be able to reach out and speak to current students.
2) I wish there was more support for students while at university.
Progression of condition and post - uni:
Thinking about how your condition might progress isn’t always particularly joyous, however it is definitely practical.
Accommodation:
Firstly, something I think it’s really important to know is that you are always able to move. Nothing is set in stone. If you aren't happy somewhere - try it for a little bit and if it isn’t for you you can always try something else. In my first year at university I moved to halls after the first semester and everyone thought I was mad doing it! In hindsight it was the best thing I ever did as I’ve met some of my best friends doing so! Finding the perfect Accommodation is difficult for everyone, let alone a student with a disability.
Things to think about when choosing your accommodation include all the normal things such as distance to your campus, housemates, bathroom type etc. Only as a disabled or chronically ill person we may have to hyper focus on certain aspects due to our health, for example, we may have access needs and need a level ground floor flat with no stairs or you may need a room away from the kitchen or with certain lighting. Living in university accommodation can be difficult but as a disabled student you should have ‘first choice’ on accommodation and therefore be able to visit and choose what works best for you.
Most universities also have accessible housing in some halls of residence. If you’re not into halls, (which is totally cool- I wasn’t originally wanting to live in halls) thinking about the location of your accommodation and housemates is incredibly important so getting to know the town and your modes of transport is particularly useful.
Can you bring your own hoist, bed etc.
SU:
Do they have a good student union? Brighton Students Union was pretty terrible… I couldn’t actually get into the one on my campus in my wheelchair or the student shop & lots of our societies were a bit poop.
Bathroom:
For me having my own bathroom was absolutely a non- negotiable, the thought of sharing a bathroom with strangers during a flare up was a nono, but having shared a bathroom with boys (who honestly I’d say some were tidier than some of the girls) I
That being said, I had friends who did it who have emetophobia and had no issues sharing bathrooms.
Choosing the right course:
How manageable is the course for you?
Are there certain elements of the course including modules or placements that may cause additional challenges due to your disability? Is this something you may need to talk to a course leader about to ask more questions or perhaps speak with the disability department about?
Do you have any health barriers that might make studying this course difficult? What might you need to help put you on an even playing field to your peers?
Future study and work:
Are you likely to want to progress on to future study such as a Masters or PhD?
Perhaps you have a career in mind? I sometimes wish I chose a more career based degree but then I also know my health couldn’t manage a career- based degree.
Emergency plan:
*The first two weeks of university usually allow for a settling in period, often including swapping courses, you may however also be likely to become unwell with common bugs and illnesses particularly within the early days and the first three months.
Having a ‘in case of emergency plan is useful for any disabled or chronically ill person, but particularly when you are a student studying away from home.
Do you need to have a hospital emergency plan? Would it make you feel more comfortable if you did? I have spoken about how to make the most out of hospital appointments here too:
It may be a good idea for your housemates to have a carer or parents’ phone number incase of emergency.
Doctors:
*It could be a good idea not to change anything immediately.
Moving to a new town for university can call for big changes in all aspects of life. Moving doctors and consultants to your new town may not be the best idea for a couple of months. Don’t pick the Uni GP just because that’s what all the students do! Definitely take time to pick a good ‘chronically ill aware’ or well reviewed GP’. It’s likely you’ll visit your GP with more complex needs and much more frequently than some of your housemates hey!
Perhaps wait a few months until you’re settled as a transition period to your new town before moving your doctors.
Chat to your doctors about your move to university and how you may be with the workload. Perhaps speaking to the university on advice on finding a good local GP, some universities have a list of recommended GP surgery’s.
Medical and care support:
Having good medical support as a disabled student is vital to ensure you thrive at university.
If you need care support outside of your studies, it would be a great idea to talk to your university and the council to see what support can be put in place. You absolutely want to make sure this is all in place before you arrive, the process can take a very long time to find yourself in a comfortable position knowing you have the correct support. Adult social care can provide direct payments from the council to support you with any care needs.
You may want to transfer specialist doctors and consultants to your new town or you may like to wait a few months until you are settled to do this. Finding a good GP in the area at the very least is incredibly important for ALL students, particularly those with more complex health needs.
Studying:
An important thing to think about before choosing what to study sounds obvious, but might not be but if you absolutely love your chosen subject! If you don’t love it now, you definitely won’t like it when your degree is over!
Catered or non catered:
Do you have any allergies or food preferences?Do the timings of catered meals work for you? Do you enjoy cooking yourself?
Catered was the only option available to me and it was a lot more expensive - I didn’t make the most of it at all as I liked cooking so ended up paying for catered food and cooked myself.
Ask yourself a few questions specific to your education:
If you aren’t too sure what help you could be eligible for, Follow on with my next post to find out what financial and academic support is out there.
Most importantly ask yourself what you would like to get out of your experience. Remember nothing is set in stone. There are always options out there to help you.
Ask for help before you find yourself desperate.
Admitting you need support makes you stronger!
Links for new applicants:
The Complete University Survival Guide
Pippa’s book on surviving university with a chronic illness. Pippa Stacey is a freelance chronic illness blogger and writer
Finding Full time PA’s:
Support as a Disabled student:
Support with PA’s/ Carers:
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