Andy Manzie
Subject: BA German and Education

Institution: University of Stirling

Disability: Visually Impaired

 

I am Andy Manzie, aged 20, in my first year at the University of Stirling, studying for a BA in German and Education.

 

I came to Stirling University primarily because it provided the degree I wanted to study. Prior to the course starting I had several visits to find out about the course but more importantly to find out how well the university could support an undergraduate with a visual impairment.

I was very impressed with the support structure at the university for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fact that all the computers on campus are networked which makes studying much more accessible for someone with my disability as they all have screen-reading software installed on them. Furthermore, in certain laboratories Braille translation software, as well as scanning facilities, are connected to the computers.

 

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The Information Technology Department, in conjunction with many other administration and disability bodies, also provides a high level of support in terms of course information. Students of modern languages have much of their semester's work pre-prepared and e-mailed to them during Fresher's Week. This is mainly due to much of the material being difficult to scan using the latest version of Kurzweil 1000 - scanning software widely used by visually impaired students on campus. For other subjects, students are given photocopied material to scan, or electronic versions of documents where possible.

 

With regards to admission and feedback on assignments I use e-mail. I find this is a lot easier than printing work off and handing in the wrong assignment by mistake. All my tutors are more than happy to receive work in this way. This is particularly impressive as nearly all faculties have an anonymous marking scheme which I am glad my particular departments are flexible about. Lecturers are, in general, more than happy to send me an electronic copy of their lecture notes. This was vital at the start of the year when, even though I recorded all lectures on to cassette, on certain occasions the recordings were very poor when a radio-microphone was not used by the lecturer.

 

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In my first year I have taken the opportunity to be involved in the student-staff committees for both French and Education. At these meetings student representatives provide feedback from fellow students to academics concerning aspects of the particular course they are following. Once again no-one within these departments has had any anxiety about my involvement in these, and the departmental secretaries subsequently send me a copy of the minutes.

 

I am a member of four university societies: French, German, kayaking and SUDS - Stirling University Drama Society. In SUDS I have recently been involved in a performance, of The Devil's Disciple, a play by George Bernard-Shaw. I also go on trips regularly with the kayak club. Involvement in these societies has been the highlight of my time at university so far. In all cases other members of these groups have accepted me into any activities and have been quite happy to offer me a lift or other assistance if we are going somewhere I can't find myself. I have made a lot of friends in this way.

 

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One major factor in meeting people has been having a guide dog. When meeting people for the first time socially, I find I am slightly nervous so having a guide dog has helped me overcome this difficulty as well as playing a big part in other people seeing me as someone who is a human being rather than someone who is, first and foremost, 'blind'.

 

Furthermore catering and bar staff within the university and in the vicinity are generally very helpful. This is very impressive considering that nearly everywhere I eat is self-service. The staff always help me to a table and bring any food and drink when it is ready - something which is not easy to do if you have a guide dog.

 

Overall I feel that my time so far at Stirling has been enjoyable and has been made so by participating in as many activities, both socially and academically, as possible as well as being surrounded by a number of open-minded students prepared to endorse my disability.

 

What does Skill do to help people like Andy?

[Posted 13th March 2003]