"I was completely unaware that what I was doing was a carer role and of the effect it was having on me. I didn't think about reaching out for support myself."

Anonymous (Staff)

"I have Crohn's disease which is essentially inflammation on my bowel. My department have been brilliant at supporting my condition. They got me (and another colleague) a fridge to keep our medication in, I have a new standing desk to help with my chronic fatigue, there are lots of accessible disabled toilets in the building we're in and they let me work from home one day a week. My boss/colleagues are really understanding of my condition".

Anonymous (Staff)

You can read more personal stories of digestive conditions on the Guts UK website.

"I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2002, having worked for the University for 13 years. Swollen, painful joints made it increasingly difficult to work in a laboratory environment and I was fortunate to be able to move to more office based work. I received a workstation assessment from Occupational Health and have since been provided with equipment to help my needs (e.g. an optical trackball, a narrower keyboard and voice activation software). This support from the University has been very helpful and has enabled me to continue working full time".

Anonymous (Staff)

You can read more personal stories of arthritis on the Arthritis Action website.

"I got diagnosed with endometriosis in 2008 after suffering with many symptoms for years before. It is not something that GP’s were aware of and my symptoms were linked to other conditions such as IBS, anxiety or it’s just what your period is meant to be like.

My symptoms were extreme pain during ovulation, pelvic pain and cramping before and during my period, heavy bleeding whist on my period, also pain during and after sex. It also caused issues with my bladder and bowel.

I started off on the combined contraceptive pill to stop my periods but I was still getting the pain (it’s a myth that even through you’re not having a period you can still get pain). I was fed up of taking strong pain killers and wanted something else done.

A Dr who finally listened to me sent me for various tests Ultrasounds, CT scan and then finally I had a laparoscopy where the surgeon gave me the official diagnosis of endometriosis. Sadly they didn’t take any of the tissue away but it was fantastic to be given a reason for all my years of pain.

I was advised to go on the progesterone only pill as the combined pill contains oestrogen and this can cause more of the endometriosis tissues to grow. For a while it helped and I stayed on this for years.

As I knew I had completed my family, (I have been blessed with 2 beautiful sons – as this condition can cause women fertility issues) I decided that I wanted to look into getting a hysterectomy, at the age of 39 this was not something the consultant was happy with at the age I was. I agreed to try out the Mirena coil to see if this would help – I had to have it removed after 6 weeks as it was causing me so much pain and was also making my depression worse.

The consultant finally decided after I turned 40 that if I was still wanting to have one he would perform a hysterectomy for me. I decided that I would have everything taken out so in November 2014 I had my cervix, womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. I had to have this performed abdominally as this way they could remove any endometriosis.

I am really glad that I had this done as when I had my follow up appointment with the consultant he told me that my surgery had taken a while and been complicated as he had found a large fibroid, my bladder was stuck to my bowel, there was endometrioses tissue in a lot of my pelvic area and even in the pouch of douglas (which I’d never even heard of). Although my recovery from the operation wasn’t easy and I went straight into surgical menopause it was the best decision I made. I was advised not to take HRT as it may encourage the endometriosis tissue to start to grow again (they can never fully take it all out) and I also have breast cancer in the family.

A hysterectomy is not always the answer but for me I have a better quality of life now, I know that some of the pain has stated to return but this can be managed through normal painkillers. I am treating my menopause symptoms with alternative methods and 5 years on I am a much happier person than I have been years ago.

Through having endometriosis I have found support and friends through social media and been able to raise awareness of this relatively unheard of condition. There has been recently in the news various articles highlighting it and one of my friends was involved in the calendar that was produced to raise awareness to help others. Endometriosis UK (endometriosis-uk.org) helped me out enormously and they have online community and a helpline what you can get in touch, I know that it has and will affect many women (and their families) for years to come – but raising awareness of this awful disease is something I am passionate about"

Anonymous (Staff)

You can read more personal stories of endometriosis on the Endometriosis UK website.

"It seems that dyslexia is still considered a disability associated with stupidity or lack of intellect. I was diagnosed in France, where I grew up, at the age of 17. Teachers just assumed that I struggled with both English and French and therefore did not pick up on this. I was also asked if I would prefer attending a ‘special school’ once I was diagnosed. I moved over to England to attend University and in 2014 I was awarded a 1st from Coventry University in Animal Science and Welfare. I began lecturing in 2014, I taught post 16 BTEC qualifications and first year veterinary nursing degree students. Throughout this time, I did not mention to my line manager or colleagues that I was dyslexic. I had to learn to hide it very well, dodging minute taking or avoiding reading out loud. I received my Diploma in Teaching and Training from the University of Warwick in 2017 with Outstanding in Teaching, still I felt uncomfortable admitting it to anyone. Once I decided to leave teaching, I started admitting that I was dyslexic (maybe it was because I didn’t care so much anymore), the reaction was not positive. Comments included – ‘how can you be a lecturer and be dyslexic?’, ‘You’re dyslexic but you teach?’. Needless to say these comment made it difficult to ever admit to any other employer that I have a learning disability.

I then started working in admin for an international company in Warwick. During the recruitment process, I was told that this sort of job would not suit someone with dyslexia. This affected my confidence but I persevered and got the job. I then had to start the process of hiding my disability. This was very stressful but I just about managed. I finished my one year maternity cover and then started working at the University of Warwick. I have never admitted on an application that I may need special requirements. I never thought that an employer would allow for extra time for an admin test and if they saw I was dyslexic automatically assume I couldn’t do the job.

Unfortunately, unconscious bias still exists and I wanted any employer to get to know me first before I admitted anything. Basically I wanted them to realise I could do the job regardless.

The Engineering Department at Warwick is the first place I’ve felt comfortable enough to talk about my dyslexia with colleagues and my line manager, and the response has been very positive".

Olivia Joyce (Staff)

"I am an academic member of staff employed in WMG. I have Multiple Sclerosis. As a result of this I live with a number of physical and other impairments including pain, fatigue, mobility problems, difficulties with vision and speech. I use a mobility scooter and a rollator to help me get around. It's probably fair to say that I am amongst the 'most' physically disabled colleagues within the University.

I arrived at Warwick early in 2019 having experienced some significant disability discrimination at a different institution. As a consequence of this I was not in a good place mentally and was very reluctant to ask for any adaptations, or even to discuss, my disability. I needn't have been concerned.

I have found WMG in particular to be very forward thinking when it comes to accommodating my disability and providing support so that I can make sure I contribute fully. For example, my disability related needs were taken into consideration in the allocation of office space for my whole team - we are now on the ground floor, with an accessible toilet (very important when you have MS) nearby. Furthermore, I have had two different line managers since my appointment at WMG. Both have been extremely supportive. Helping me to work out how best to manage my workload so that the M.S. doesn't get in the way.

As the Pandemic struck it became obvious that it would be dangerous for me to return to campus before any vaccination programme was in place. This wasn't a problem and I have been fully supported in working from home.

Professionally I have been given the opportunity to continue to make a difference doing what I love. I have recently been promoted and am so amazed to be in a place that values me as an academic and professional person - irrespective of the fact that I have M.S.

WMG is making a real effort to become a fully inclusive learning community. This is being done in a culture where difference is acknowledge and viewed as a strength. Likewise, I have joined the University of Warwick Staff Disability Network and have found myself part of an educational culture where it is ability not disability that counts. I would encourage any disabled colleagues considering applying for a position here at Warwick to apply."

Dr Jane Andrews (Staff)

You can read more stories of life with MS on the MS Trust website.

"Since coming to university, I have often been confronted with how much my experience as a student with a visual impairment differs from that of my fully sighted peers. I am an English Literature student who owns no books, and who doesn't feel the same innate sense of home from bookshops who can't (or won't) accommodate readers like me. A large amount of people in my field have placed physical books on a pedestal of superiority above e-books, the formats of which are compatible with text-to-speech software, and are easier to adapt to large print, thus making them far more accessible. The 'printed books vs e-books' debate is inherently ableist, though inadvertently in most cases: to argue that the feel of a physical book makes them the only acceptable way to access a text minimises not only the percentage of the readership with disabilities, but also the ability of a writer to produce a book whose worth transcends its format. As members of a university, we rely on books and texts of all varieties, and as such we need to leave behind the idea that there is one superior way to access the knowledge they provide.

As has been the case for my whole life, my disability affects me in ways that are not always visible; the anxiety caused by not being able to properly see the world around me is something I have been trying to combat for many years. I worry about missing visual cues in conversation, causing people to get the wrong impression of me. I worry about my phone, my usual saviour in bus or train stations (as I can't read the boards), dying, leaving me stranded somewhere - I also worry about being that reliant on technology. I worry that people think I use my disability as an excuse both in university and general life; the 20 years I have spent developing coping mechanisms often makes me appear more on top of things than I am. In general, I worry a lot. The growing awareness of how disability effects people in invisible ways does provide some comfort. But, like many differently abled people, I struggle to overcome my worries about asking people to accommodate my needs for fear of appearing overdramatic or self-absorbed. As I have got older and surrounded myself with supportive people, I have found it easier to assert myself, and I hope this will become more natural as I continue to combat my own worries. However, if the fully sighted population decided to reflect on their awareness of the people around them as much as those who can't see them, the worrying might decrease for everyone."

Anonymous (Student)

"After a period of traumatic events in my home life last year, I felt anxious, teary, and had chronic insomnia. I took some time off to look after myself but the feelings of anxiety and low mood were overpowering. It had been suggested that I contact the Employee Assistance Scheme to talk to someone about what support might be available but I had many concerns such as confidentiality, what would be offered and if it would make any difference at all. After much thought I decided I had nothing to lose and made the initial call, and I can honestly say I am so glad I did. I was offered therapy in my local area, which was flexible to my life and working patterns, and was centred on my experience and individual needs. Of course, there was no quick fix- I still have good days and bad days. But when I look back, that support was integral to me moving forward and rebuilding myself. Don’t suffer in silence, speak to someone."

Anonymous (Staff)

Hear Warwick staff member, Alex Jackson (winner of the April 2023 Warwick Wonder award!) talk with friend and colleague Nick Barker (winner of the October 2023 Warwick Wonder award!) about Alex's experience as an autistic person who was diagnosed later in life.

"I just want to help somebody, whether it's a manager understanding things or whether it's somebody realising, actually, maybe they are on the autism spectrum, that they've been struggling with things all their life and not knowing what label to give that or know what to research to find that out. If this interview can help just one person then I've done what I set out to do."

Alex is happy for colleagues to reach out to her if there is anything you would like to talk about further - you can contact her at .

Transcript of Alex's interview.

"For me, people appreciating the differences and difficulties that people with autism face is crucial. Understanding that we may need more time to process what is going on around us, may have seen things differently to you, or have anxiety and sensory barriers that stop us from participating in certain activities is central to being able to support someone with autism. I also think that it is really important for people with AS to seek out others with similar differences. Being with other autistic people really helped me to celebrate my differences rather than feeling alone and isolated in them because I realised that there are others out there going through the same things that I am. Having a support networks out there with an amazing understanding of the difficulties that I face as an autistic person really helps me with day to day life because I know that if I am struggling, people will understand why, and know how to support me."

Anonymous (Student)

"Often when hearing people hear the word ‘deaf’ they assume we are referring to someone with absolutely no hearing at all. However, this is incorrect. Within the community, we use ‘deaf’ to refer to someone with any level of hearing loss at all, from mild all the way to profound (more on what those words mean in the FAQs above).

Within the Deaf community, there’s a whole host of language used and how people refer to themselves ultimately comes down to personal preference, however, here’s a quick guide to some expressions you might see used, and which ones to generally avoid.

You might also see deaf written as Deaf or D/deaf. The capitalisation of Deaf is often used by people who see their deafness as more than just a disability but also their cultural identity. The Deaf community is an especially strong one with its own cultural norms and rules, and obviously also our own language in British Sign Language! Some people might prefer to just say deaf instead of Deaf if they don’t feel very connected to the Deaf community or see their deafness as a disability rather than an identity.

You might also see people referring to themselves as ‘hard of hearing’ (often abbreviated to HoH). There is no rule as to what constitutes ‘deaf’ and what constitutes ‘HoH’ – it just comes down to how the individual prefers to view themselves.

However, one phrase to avoid at all costs as it is seen as highly offensive by the entire D/deaf/HoH community is ‘hearing impaired’. This is because this term implies that there is something wrong with us and that we need fixing. There’s a really goodarticle on the use of 'hearing impaired' hereif you’d like to read more."

Eleanor Hassall, Deaf student and former Warwick Enable President.

"Hearing Aids should be the answer. The problem is mine don’t always work, and getting them repaired is always a faff. Then there’s the problem with masks. Put the aid over the mask loop, and you worry about losing the aid. Put the mask over the aid, and you worry about damaging them.

I never knew how much I lip read. Add in how much masks muffle voices, and it’s all a very real problem. Voices are muffled at the best of times. I know you’re speaking, but for the life of me, I haven’t got a clue what you’re saying.

People have lived in bubbles with relatives these past few months. Without help, people with hearing difficulties live in a bubble of one their entire lives. When you can’t hear, people stop talking to you. You can’t hear birds sing, or the wind in the trees. The world is very boring when you can’t hear it properly. Worse, you’re isolated.

But hearing difficulty does not need to lead to a deaf sentence. Colleagues are universally very good. They understand the importance of clarity over volume. They readily spell out words when I ask them to do so. Vitally, they are patient. For that, a big thumbs up, and a huge 'thank you'."

Anonymous (Staff)

"When thinking about somebody with a disability, the most common thing thought about is a wheelchair user. The International Symbol of Access is a wheelchair, and this is incorporated onto accessible toilets, parking signs and other disability-related items. This can skew people’s perception of disability and often leads to people who are not wheelchair users facing unnecessary and distressing confrontation from members of the public when using facilities designed for disabled people, including toilets and parking. This type of disability discrimination and ableism based on assumptions is more widely known, but I wanted to use this guest blog as an opportunity to talk about people with variable physical conditions/disabilities that cause a variation in what type of mobility aid they use, depending on how their condition is presenting that day. I want to explore some of the reasons why this may be the case, how it feels as an individual to experience this, as well as the experience of how people’s perceptions of you change based on how you are presenting that day. I will also touch on some of the ableism that can come from within the disability community itself and how you can help to support disabled colleagues and students with variable conditions/disabilities.

To keep this blog anonymous, I will make generalisations about my conditions, but I have a pair of conditions that affect my joints and heart so walking can cause physical injury, pain and fatigue amongst other things. This means that the safest and most comfortable way of getting around is to use a powered wheelchair as the stress on my joints and heart are significantly reduced, reducing my pain levels and fatigue and increasing my ability to function. However, the downside of using a wheelchair for my condition is that my muscles decondition so when I do stand, the stress on my joints (and my heart) is greater, increasing the risk of injury. When I first got my wheelchair several years ago, shortly after diagnosis when I was physically too unwell to walk, I was not aware of the downward spiral that would follow. It’s a typical catch-22 situation that I needed the wheelchair to get around because my condition was too unstable, but my condition was getting more unstable because of using the wheelchair. Can’t win! Lockdown has been great for managing my conditions though because I have been able to reclaim a lot of my previous activity levels and change my work set up to one that is better suited to manage the variations in my conditions.

Something else that perpetuates the problem is society’s assumption that all wheelchair users can’t walk or are paralysed. Of course there are some who can’t because of their own situation, but this view of disability binarism, (the black-and-white view of you either can or can’t walk) means that many wheelchair users who can walk when their condition permits, often for short distances in managed scenarios, feel unable to due to comments made by others and the anxiety this induces. Out of the 1.2 million wheelchair users in the U.K. approximately one third of them are ambulatory users. In recent times, media perception of benefits cheats and so-called “fakers” has fed the perception that it is right to call people out who “don’t look disabled” or if they cross their legs or stand up from a wheelchair because theyclearly must be faking…Obviously this is not the case, but has caused many people to unnecessarily lose access to financial assistance, vital mobility aids and Motability vehicles. With the typical time it takes for an appeal to be successful being far longer than the grace period to keep cars and mobility aids, disabled people are losing their independence due to negative assumptions perpetuated by the media. This is a frightening prospect for many disabled people, particularly those with variable conditions, that the actions of someone else could have such a negative impact on your life.

Let me tell you how this translates into my real world with a typical example of what should be a simple trip to the supermarket. I drive into an accessible parking space in the supermarket carpark. The adaptations made to my car to help me to drive are not clearly visible from the outside but are significant. I put my blue badge on the dashboard looking around to see who is watching despite having nothing to hide. The older couple in the car next to me shake their head at me because I am clearly too young to have a blue badge in their eyes. I get out of the car, stretch and stand for a moment to check my heart rate whilst holding onto the door. In these few seconds, you could say that I look perfectly “normal” but my mind is whirring with anxiety of who is watching and are they trying to snap a picture ready to confront me or report me. The couple shout from the window “Who’s badge have you stolen?”. Without replying, I get my stick out of the car and then head to the boot to get my powered wheelchair out. They soon drive off, but without apologising.

Inside the shop, there is something that I need on the top shelf. I am tall enough to reach it, but not tall enough from my chair. Now comes the internal dilemma of “I am well enough to stand to reach it today but will that cause more unhelpful comments from people?” (my least favourite – “it’s a miracle!”) but I don’t want to have to ask for help again when I don’t actually need it today. I wait until the aisle is clear, check my heart rate and go to reach it, but just as I’m sitting down, someone appears behind me and says “caught ya!”. They try to make it into a joke by following up their statement with questions like whether I need a license and how fast can I go, which is the thousandth time that I’ve been asked these questions. I make polite but awkward conversation before carrying on with my shopping. At the checkout, the new dividers between tills mean that I can only fit down one of them in my powerchair and that one is not open. I am frustrated with myself because although I have the ability on good days to collect something from a shelf, I can’t walk around the whole shop or stand in a queue without ending up in a heap on the floor. It’s like giving a kid a lollipop to hold but not allowing them to taste it.

Sadly, people also treat me differently whether I am sat in a wheelchair or stood. When sat in my wheelchair, people often talk over me or treat me as if I am not intelligent. They talk to my friends about me over my head – “Do they need help?”. Sometimes I use my wheelchair to get from A to B to save my energy for when I get there and to be able to enjoy myself in less pain. This significantly improves my quality of life. I also have a choice of mobility aids that I can use for different things based on how my condition is at that moment and what I am planning to do. People don’t realise that cars can be mobility aids for many people and proximity of parking to buildings can be important.

People also assume that because I’ve done something one day, it means that I can do it all the time. This is particularly hard for family members to understand and can cause frustration when I can’t do it there and then. Often the cause for not being able to do something is because I did it the day before. Another source of ableism for people with variable conditions comes directly from within the disability community itself, particularly those who have conditions that do not change. This can lead to feelings of not being welcome in the community because “you’re not disabled enough”, but let’s face it, this is not disability top trumps! Sadly this often makes me feel that I have to keep this part of my disability secret from others in the disability community.

So if you’ve made it this far, hopefully you are wondering what you could do to help disabled people, particularly those with variable conditions, to feel supported. Here are 3 things to consider:

1. Actively listen to the disabled person. They are the only person who knows what is going on with their body at the time. If they say they can do something, that is equally as important as them saying that they can’t do something. Respect them if that changes.
2. Never assume. You can never tell from someone’s appearance exactly what is going on or whether they may have a hidden disability. Just because someone is smiling doesn’t mean they’re not in pain or struggling more than you will know. Appearances can be deceiving.
3. Challenge negative behaviours. In an office setting this could present as so-called banter, but phrases including the words “miracle” and “faker” are never okay when aimed at a disabled person. In public, if you see someone being confronted, or you hear an associate talking negatively about a disabled person, feel empowered to challenge negative behaviour and stereotypes."

Anonymous (Staff)

"I returned to work full-time when my son was 6 months old and it was a challenging and emotional time. As well as adjusting to not being with my baby every day and overcoming the feelings this caused, I was trying to pick up where I’d left off at work and absorb all the changes that had happened. It was a lot to juggle, my confidence hit rock bottom professionally and it took a long time before I started to regain some confidence. It really helped to have the opportunity to talk to other people who were going through the same, as well as those that had already been through it and could provide valuable help and advice."

Anonymous (Staff)

"Having a baby rocks your world and it can be hard to manage both your own and others’ expectations about how you will juggle your family and career. I would have found it very helpful to talk through some of the very difficult decisions and transitions you have to make, in confidence and with someone who had already been through it."

Anonymous (Staff)

"Having been out of the world of work for over 10 months, I was nervous about coming back. I knew that my children would be ok and settled in nursery, but I felt that I had lost a lot of self-confidence in a professional sense. I was afraid to mention this to anyone at work as I didn’t want them to lose confidence in me. Therefore, I felt a bit of a fraud for a good few months as I ‘pretended’ to still be good at my job whilst I frantically tried to catch up with what I had missed. I know it would have helped to talk to peers about this completely reasonable way of feeling."

Anonymous (Staff)