By Hope Cotton (she/her)
Starting university can be intimidating for us all. When you add the extra challenges of navigating an inaccessible world, it’s no wonder I was such a nervous fresher. New disabled students don’t just worry about finding lecture theatres, making friends, and choosing the coolest outfits for O-Week, they’re stressing about physical access to classes and organizing accommodations like sign language interpreters or notetakers.
There’s a lot to plan and so many questions to be asked. As a fresher, I wished I knew a disabled student I could go to for advice. Advocating for myself was awkward, and I didn’t know how to explain that I was so down to be friends, but my Deaf ass had no idea what people were saying. So, I sought out some disabled VUW students and asked them about the things I wish I had known as a fresher.
What's one trick you use to make uni more accessible for you?
Myllo (he/they) recommends, “If you need a mobility aid or anything else, but you're scared it will draw attention, just do it. It’s better that you stay healthy and are able to pace yourself, than get injured or cause unnecessary hurt. We need to see disabled people out and proud living their lives. Your bravery to show your disability openly and proudly could encourage someone to finally use their mobility aid in public.”
Zia (he/they/it) says, “Sounds crazy in this city, but avoid[ing] stairs where possible. They take a while with a cane and tire me out easily. There are more lifts on campus than you think, if you know where to find them.”
What's your top tip for self advocacy at uni?
Zia’s top tip is to “Trust that I know what is best for me and my body, and take myself seriously. It's a lot easier to ask for an accommodation if I am confident I need it and it will help me.”
Myllo’s biggest piece of advice is to “Be firm. Go to disability support, tell them your needs... The more open and honest you are with your disability support staff member and your tutors, the better. Everyone here wants to see you succeed.”
What has helped you build a community at VUW?
Zia says “Being on the executive for UniQ has made me care a lot about giving back to my community and the intersections between queerness, disability, and other marginalised groups. UniQ has been a great sauce for support and friendship.”
Myllo praises New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) classes and Deaf Coffee Club, “I took NZSL101 in my first year as an elective. I had no intention of continuing but I fell in love with it and made so many friends. I’m now in my 3rd year and I’ve finished my minor in NZSL and all the close friends I’ve made at uni have been through those classes. So my advice for building community? Learn sign language and come along to Deaf Coffee.”
What's one thing you wish you could tell yourself as a fresher?
Myllo advises, “Don’t try and do everything! As much as you want to be just like everyone else and take all those classes and join all those clubs, it’s okay to set limits. If you put too much on your plate, everything suffers. In my first year, I felt like I needed to prove that I could do everything... My grades suffered, my mental and physical health suffered, it's just not something I would risk doing again. I would rather do less but do it to a high degree than do more but barely pass.”
Zia wishes they could tell himself, “YOU ARE DISABLED!!! I didn't realise or do anything about my disabilities until my third year of study because I was so convinced what I was experiencing was 'normal.' I was so focused on ignoring my disabilities that I couldn't learn how to manage them, and I wish I had learnt that earlier.”
My final advice for all our awesome disabled freshers is to make sure you’re registered with disability services if you need accommodations, join us at the Disabled Students Association and have fun! We wish you all the best of luck and we’re so excited to have you here!
You can contact University Disability Services at disability@vuw.ac.nz, the Disabled Students Association at vuwdsa@gmail.com and the Neurodiversity Club at neurodiversityvuw@outlook.com
