Support for disabled researchers

The postgraduate researchers (PGRs) involved in the Premia research all continued on their research degree programmes, with  most having either completed or are about to complete. However, not all their experiences have been good and there were times when support was not available or seemed unsatisfactory. But all were committed to successful completion.

Most of the PGRs said that they had not seen themselves as doctoral candidates - and that was often a direct result of earlier negative educational experiences. Some dyslexic PGRs talked about their school life and the perception from others that they would not succeed academically. Other disabled PGRs described their reluctance to ask for support in case  they were seen as a ‘problem'.  

‘I think it's always better to attempt something today than not to attempt it at all...I never thought I would become a lecturer at University. If someone asked me what my ideal job was, I would (have said to be) a lecturer, but I never thought I would get up to that. My attitude is if I didn't attempt it that would be failing, because all my life I would be sitting back and thinking, ‘I wonder if I could have really got there?'

The researcher quoted above was appointed to a lectureship after completion (October 2005). You will find throughout these resources the accounts of PGRs and graduates with research degrees who have managed their learning at the highest level. Their words are used - as evidence of success; as advisers on ways of overcoming barriers, what works and what doesn't work; as examples of what you can expect in the research environment, and as pointers to sources of support.