Queen’s celebrates achievements of disabled students

Queen's University is celebrating the achievements of its students with disabilities at a special event later this week.

The students' success stories will be highlighted at a celebration on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary of the University's award-winning Disability Services Unit. In the past 10 years, the number of students with disabilities registered at Queen's has risen to 1,200, compared with 50 a decade ago.

Highlights of the past 10 years include the award to the University in 2004 of one of the first ever Employers' Forum on Disability (NI) Employer Recognition Awards.

In 2007, Queen's was short-listed for a prestigious Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Support for Students with Disabilities.

Speaking ahead of the celebration, Queen's Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said: "By working in collaboration with staff across the University, Disability Services plays a pivotal role in ensuring that disabled students have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience while studying at Queen's.

"Much has changed since Disability Services was established in 2000. It is apparent that more students with disabilities are choosing to disclose their disability while at university. This is crucial if Queen's is to provide them with all the support they need to complete their course successfully.

Linda Maguire, Head of Disability Services, said: "The last decade has been one of rapid development. We have seen changes to policies and procedures to ensure that they are inclusive of disabled students, significant modifications to the University estate and the development of staff awareness courses on disability issues. Most importantly, the University has developed a range of support mechanisms which are tailored to meet the need of a diverse range of students studying across all disciplines and at all levels.

"Many of the students who have accessed the service have faced - and overcome - significant challenges. These students and those that we currently support reinforce our ongoing commitment to ensuring that the University continues to provide high-quality support to disabled students."

The achievements of many Queen's students with disabilities are featured in a special commemorative booklet and DVD produced to coincide with the anniversary.

These include mature student Lorraine Boyd, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 35, and graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Social Policy and Sociology in 2006.

Another success story comes from Hugh Cox, who has a significant visual impairment, and who graduated with a Masters in Computer Based Learning the same year.

He said: "Being a graduate provides me with a great sense of satisfaction and the confidence to look for work in the knowledge that I am fully qualified to work in my chosen field. As a self-employed person, completing the course enabled me to become self-disciplined, confident and gave me the courage that I so badly needed to strike out on my own.

"My advice to other disabled students who may be thinking of studying at Queen's is to go for it - you will not regret it!"

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