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Profile: Jenny Jones

Subject: BSc Occupational Therapy
Institution: York St John University College

I am currently studying Occupational Therapy at York St John University College. I have a hearing impairment of 60 decibels in my left ear and 80 decibels in right ear and I suffer from tinnitus. I wear two digital hearing aids. I chose to come to York St John because of its good reputation for Occupational Therapy, its beautiful setting and the smallness of the college. I felt I would be comfortable and would be able to manage in this environment.

Starting university for anyone can be a scary experience, but when you have extra needs to consider it seems even more daunting. For example, how would I hear in large lecture halls? Would I hear in seminars and would I manage living in halls? Would my disability be accepted and dealt with appropriately by staff and other students?

On receiving my place on the course, I came to meet the Disability Unit staff and my Head of Programme to consider the type and amount of support I would need. The support I receive is essential for me to be able to reach my goal. It consists of a support worker who writes notes for me so I can concentrate on what I can hear. If I need to go somewhere, to see a lecturer for a tutorial, for example, I can request a support worker to come with me. The Disability Unit also helped me apply for my Disabled Students’ Allowance which I used to purchase some high-quality digital hearing aids, which give me a higher quality of hearing. I also bought a laptop.

When living in Halls, the college provided me with a special fire alarm. This was essential in me feeling safe while also having some independence and not having to rely on others. I had a special fire alarm installed which had an individual siren, a strobe light and a vibrating pillow pad.

Throughout my time at university, all the staff have been supportive. My lecturers try their best to ensure that all notes are available on the internet beforehand so I can read them through. They go through work with me if I need it. As it’s a small university, you get to know staff well which really helps. You are just not one face in the crowd but an individual. In conjunction with the Disability Unit, I have arranged deaf awareness training sessions for staff and many took the time to attend and took on board the advice. As part of my course, we have to do placements and the placement coordinator and my Head of Programme work together to find placements that suit my needs. All the placements have been welcoming to me.

I have learnt a lot from coming to university - how not to let any difficulties come in the way of fulfilling your dream. There have been times when I have really struggled but I kept the idea of being an Occupational Therapist in my head. Things can get frustrating at times, for example poor acoustics in lecture rooms, or not being able to hear group conversations, but support is always available.

University is a great thing to do. You get to meet so many new people and make friends, gain lots of confidence and independence. Your phone book doubles and social life increases. Join a club or society that interests you - it’s a great way to feel involved. You develop as a person, even when times get hard, so keep the goal in mind. At the end of the day, despite my difficulties, I am a student working hard and playing hard and enjoying life to the full.

[Posted October 2007]