HE Enabled

45. Diagnosed with ADHD Twice, Internships With Variable Health Conditions, and Looking Outside Your Uni for Opportunity: Thea’s Story

CW: This episode contains passing references to the COVID pandemic. About the episode: Thea is a student at the University of Bristol, where she is studying for a BSc in Social Policy and Politics. She is currently taking part in the Change 100 internship programme, and is preparing to start a master’s in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation at Oxford. In this episode of HE Enabled, Thea shares her experience of university with both ADHD and arthritis. We explore how shared care agreements necessitated a second ADHD diagnosis for Thea, how she balances her work with fluctuating health conditions, and the safeguards that she puts in place to protect her wellbeing. There is also plenty of nerding out about social policy, and a confused rant from Cath about why people don't register with their uni GP! Thanks so much to Thea for coming on the show. Enjoy this episode? You can listen to the next episode of HE Enbled right now via the Patreon link below. HE Enabled links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/HEnabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee and help to keep HE Enabled Running :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/he_enabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HE Enabled on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree.⁠ [https://linktr.ee/HE_Enabled]

44. Attending Uni as a Blind International Student, Extracurricular Access Barriers, and Choosing the Academy Over the City: Abhishek’s Story

Abhishek is a student at Queen Mary, University of London, where he is currently studying for an MRes in Human Rights Law. He also received his LLB and LLM degrees from QMUL. I had the pleasure of meeting Abhishek late last year, and spoke alongside him at the Disability History Month event hosted by Dan (a previous guest and friend of the show). We spent this episode discussing Abhishek's experience as an international disabled student. Hailing from India, Abhishek arrived at QMUL in 2021 to read for an LLB. He quickly learned the cultural differences in our physical landscapes as a blind student (security carded doors are less common in India, for example), as well the differences in provision between him and home students with DSA access. Cath also learns about how extracurriculars and societies have been difficult to access for Abhishek, owing to them being managed by different departments within his university. We also find out why Abhishek is choosing to stay in academia to read human rights law! Listen to other guests who also spoke at the QMUL Disability History Month Event (Spotify links): 17. Managing Diabetes, Student Voice, and Researching Safe AI use for Insulin Pumps: Tom’s Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LgHkZfDTx0E8sbrFofiSG?si=ad9969209c2b4aa5] 25. Researching Autistic Experiences, Accessible Train Stations, and Bringing Disabled Students Together: Daniel’s Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5I4SQM4zALKyPyRHrsVS3v?si=8bdf5925feed4059] 26. Disabled Representation in Architecture School, Late Diagnoses, and the Ideal Student Fallacy: Sarah's Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1i5WohHjN28HUcCbD0xKEF?si=2624775ca53a4288] 28. Depression in the Neurodivergent Global Majority, Five Degrees, and the Transformative Nature of Adjustments: Emma’s Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/015x3R5zTFmYL59ureGA9p?si=85a6885b299043c7] Cath's story (in two parts) Episode 1- My Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zewXgSq4hIxcMvVdjPcvC?si=cf501a411998463b] 22. HEnabled: One Year On. My Story (Finale), Show Updates, and a Call to Action. [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3snmnEjtdY73i7mUhNxPfF?si=342de42c1a364f3f] HE Enabled links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/HEnabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee and help to keep HE Enabled Running :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/he_enabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HE Enabled on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree.⁠ [https://linktr.ee/HE_Enabled]

43. Diagnosed by TikTok, Rebuilding Self-Trust, and Bouncing Back from Systematic Failures: Kai’s Story

CW: This episode contains passing references to the COVID pandemic and negative mental health episodes. Episode info: Kai is a student at the University of Manchester, reading for a PhD in Pure Mathematics. Their thesis focuses on density combinatorics of amenable groups using ergodic methods (which is explained briefly in the episode!). Kai is also the PGR co-chair of Manchester’s Neurodivergent Staff Network, the inclusion officer of the Disabled Students’ Society, and the PGR representative for the School of Natural Sciences. In this episode, we explore the missed opportunities for Kai to have been assessed for ADHD and the mental health struggles that resulted from their late diagnosis. Kai also shares the additional struggles they faced with attenuated symptoms of depressive psychosis, and the effort it has taken to rebuild self-trust in their experiences. Kai also discusses how they built a learning environment which works for their learning style. It includes the switch to part-time study! Thanks again to Kai for coming on the show :) Previous episodes with guests from the University of Manchester (Spotify links): 38. Lecturing Through Burnout, Staff Advocacy, and Thriving in the Right Environment: Katie's Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nvAa9oJGhNNtBnpMfDVSm?si=0cb30ebb0dc841d6] 34. Using Power for Positive Change, Taking the Unconventional Path, and Talking Disability at Manchester: Prof. Jackie Carter’s Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nvg2eE49CI6i7B8IaM0m2?si=7799e3616dbc43bf] HE Enabled links: ⁠⁠⁠Join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/HEnabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee and help to keep HE Enabled Running :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/he_enabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HE Enabled on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree. [https://linktr.ee/HE_Enabled]

42. Breaking Internalised Beliefs, Rebellious Leadership, and the Importance of Contextualising Achievement: Kelly's Story

CWs: Mentions of addiction (6:12-6:21), miscarriage (13:06-13:19), and eating disorders (22:46-22:53). Episode info: Kelly is on HE Enabled this week! Kelly is a programme manager at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she manages the Laidlaw Scholarship! Kelly works incredibly hard in developing inclusive experiences for the scholars, so that they turn into ethical leaders themselves. She also holds degrees from the University of Greenwich and Kingston University. In this episode, Kelly explores the deeply personal contexts which shaped her academic experience. After being adopted young, she went through life with undiagnosed ADHD until 2023. Before her diagnosis, Kelly had become a young parent and started her life with her husband while working as ahairdresser. She started university at 30 and eventually completed her BA while caring for a newborn. Kelly finished her MA after receiving her ADHD diagnosis; she now puts a frankly impressive amount of energy into developing inclusive practice in her work at LSE! Kelly is representing herself as an individual here; all views are her own. HE Enabled links: ⁠⁠Join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/HEnabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee and help to keep HE Enabled Running :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/he_enabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HE Enabled on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree. [https://linktr.ee/HE_Enabled]

41. Rethinking Narratives Around Sectioning, Developing Student Union Inclusion Policies, and Returning to the Same University After Over a Decade Away: Alicia’s Story

CW: Indirect mentions of self-harm in relation to being sectioned under the Mental Health Act (35:26-35:52) Alicia is a student at the University of Lancashire (previously UCLan) studying for a BA in applied community and social care studies. They have returned to the same university after over 15 years away and are massively involved in student voice. In fact, they’ve just been elected as the student rep for governance at Lancashire SU (a part-time SU president). In this episode, Alicia shares how they use their lived experience of being sectioned under the Mental Health Act as a tool to change narratives around the people it impacts. We also discuss how Alicia's multiple neurodivergent and physical conditions inform their work in student voice, and the plans they have as the governance representative next academic year. There are also some great conversations around how to empower not just disabled students, but those from different intersections and backgrounds too. Thanks to Alicia for coming on the show! HE Enabled links: ⁠Join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/HEnabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee and help to keep HE Enabled Running :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/he_enabled]  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HE Enabled on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree. [https://linktr.ee/HE_Enabled]