Oxford is a city of opportunity, though a place that comes with its own challenges, being disabled. My journey to Oxford hasn’t been the easiest and I am very thankful for the support I have received, but unfortunately, there are still fundamental areas where more focus is needed. Oxford is on the path to being a more inclusive university, but there are still big steps to take.
For context, I have fibromyalgia which is an often not well-understood condition. It is far more common in women than men, and it is usually diagnosed in people much older than myself. Fibromyalgia is different for everybody – in my case, I am unable to write, I can’t lift heavy things, I have constant fatigue, and I have variable mobility among other symptoms. Some days it is entirely unnoticeable and I am like I was before I developed symptoms, and other days I am barely able to get out of bed due to crippling pain and severe fatigue. I push through as best I can and the flexibility in my university lifestyle allows me to structure my commitments best to minimise my pain, but it is very much something ever-present I can never truly be in control of.
Read more at: https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2022/03/02/fibromyalgia-and-disability-at-oxford-2/
