Researcher experiences of their skills

Here are some examples that disabled researchers have given, which show how their proactive approach has made a positive contribution to their skills development.

‘...it's empowering to use your initiative and seek out some of your own solutions to your disability...I've done extensive research on what equipment can help me best and have requested this from ATW (Access to Work).’

Research graduate with RSI

‘For someone who is dyslexic and was told he was stupid and would not get any A levels or go to university, this is a major achievement.’

Doctoral graduate with dyslexia

‘I had overcome a serious challenge without giving up.’

Research graduate with RSI

‘I feel now that I have an advantage when it comes to job applications and that all-important interview. I now have new experiences to draw upon and can use these not only to present myself in a positive way, but to articulate to others when I need to take time to allow myself to be fully fit or to complete a task with the care and accuracy it deserves.’

PhD student with auto-immune condition

‘I have gained the intellectual experience of being able to develop my own ideas through a process of critical enquiry and self-discovery. This has given me a new sense of confidence in my own abilities, as well as a desire to further myself academically.’

Research graduate with hidden disabilities

‘Because of difficulties with oral work, I have asked my supervisor for feedback on my thesis in writing prior to meeting in person to discuss this, so I have time to consider this in advance of meeting him.’

PhD student with dyspraxia

‘I ensured that with my own computer, I learned and used as many shortcuts, auto-completion, templates and automatic updating of numbering, table of contents etc as possible, for frequently typed-up words and phrases, to reduce the amount of typing I had to undertake at any time...

I enjoyed the academic challenge and the lifestyle of postgraduate research in flexibility and freedom...

I developed excellent communication skills and ability to prepare high-quality documentation etc. I also gained good friendships, networking skills and confidence that have helped me in my career subsequently.’

Doctoral graduate with mobility impairment

‘Through my own personal experiences of having to deal with the effects of a specific learning disability, I was able to further my understanding of how issues of disability can affect the educational opportunities of some of the students I come into professional contact with.’

Research graduate with hidden disabilities

‘...I had to work and push twice as hard to obtain development opportunities...the general feeling was that if I was well enough to attend conferences then I should be in the lab maximising the times when I felt well. I therefore took every opportunity to present my work at school-organised presentations and then national and subsequently international conferences.’

PhD student with auto immune condition

‘My written communication has certainly opened some doors for me in terms of professional development - I have written a number of political articles for e-journals and campaigning organisations. I should note, however, that my handwritten work is of a much lower standard - to produce written work to an acceptable standard I find it necessary to use a computer.’

PhD student with dyspraxia

‘My oral communication has made oral exams/ presentations/interviews comparatively stressful. But having made myself struggle through doing a number of conference presentations, I am becoming more proficient at this.’

PhD student with dyspraxia

‘A significant problem with networking has been a pretty limited ability to recognise faces, something which apparently may be related to my dyspraxia. When meeting people face-to-face, I have found it hard to remember who is who. I've tried to deal with this by doing lots of my networking via e-mail, meaning that I have developed a reasonably extensive network of e-mail contacts.’

 PhD student with dyspraxia