Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you!

Christy: Hi, I’m Christy and I’m studying Politics and International Relations here at the University of Surrey. Outside of my studies, I’m the Vice President of Stag Radio – the University of Surrey’s radio station – a rugby, and Dr Who fan.

Jonah: Hi! I’m Jonah and I’m a 3rd year BMus Music Student. Piano is definitely my best instrument but I’ve tried out a couple others. I have been diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD but I also have a lot of bits from other Neurodivergent conditions. In my free time i’m the Production Manager for Stag Radio (Join the herd BE HEARD) along with a bunch of other hobbies.

Sahil: Hey there, I’m Sahil and I’m a final year Electrical and Electronics Engineering student. I’m also the Stag Radio President (give us a listen!) and part time officer for the student’s union! In my free time I like listening to music (majority is either hip hop or musical theatre), play read murder mystery novels and play D&D. 5 years ago I was diagnosed with combined ADHD (inattentive and hyperactive).

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What advice would you give to Disabled or Neurodiverse students starting university?

Christy: Communication! The Disability and Neurodiversity team is there to ensure that your experience at Surrey is just like anyone else’s; no matter the time, date, or issue, never feel like you can’t reach out to a member of the team, they’re amazing at making sure that things go as smoothly as possible and at your own pace.

Jonah: The main piece of advice I would give is that it's absolutely ok to feel overwhelmed. (especially if big changes hit you particularly hard - they certainly do for me). It’s really important to remember that lecturers are never out to get you and that falling behind is never a personal failing - it’s just a huge shift in so many ways that it’s completely reasonable to need support. Also that you aren’t stupid! Your brain just works in a specific way that takes a long time to figure out.

Sahil: When the going gets tough, treat yourself like you’d treat a friend. When you feel like
you need to work twice as hard as someone without a disability or someone neurotypical, it’s really, really easy to neglect basic self-care.

I would advise students to periodically, take a step back and think to yourself “am I treating myself how I’d want a friend or loved one to be treated?”. I genuinely have sometimes even taken it a step further and asked myself “imagine if I borrowed my friend’s body for a day, is this the condition I would want to give it back to them?” and yes, it’s weird, but the idea is the same. If the answer is “oof, probably not” then it might be time to reassess. 

Take that shower you’ve been putting off, eat that meal you’ve been pushing aside, take that break you said you’d get to “eventually” and reach out for that support that you’ve been denying yourself- don’t forget to take care of yourself the way you would want the people close to you to take care of themselves. Self-compassion is important.

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What changes would you like to see at the University of Surrey and Union to better support Disabled and Neurodiverse students?

Christy: Personally, I would like to see greater consistency in accessibility across campus; whilst the university is an inclusive zone, there are still some areas which can prove challenging to access to disabled students. Also, wider neurodiversity training for staff would help create a more inclusive environment and would also allow students to have a wider range of personnel in which they could go to.

Jonah: While I have no physical impairments/disabilities myself, I would like to see the Uni/Union provide better for those that do. Some areas are completely inaccessible to wheelchair users (Such as the Stag Radio studio, along with many others) and many of the elements meant to help simply don’t do enough.

Sahil: I don’t have any mobility issues myself, but I would say the university really needs to improve its wheelchair accessible ramps around campus. I’m reminded of this every time I go to the Stag Radio station- the ramps beside the stairs are narrow and steep, giving the impression they were built without any thought at all. Performative inclusivity is just as neglectful as ignoring the problem altogether, and it is also insulting to the people who need those inclusive measures. For neurodiverse students, improving accessibility to lecture slides and Panopto recordings is important. I am aware that every year there are lecturers who simply do not publish their lecture slides and Panopto recordings which directly negatively
impacts students who struggle to focus in lectures.

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What is your biggest achievement at University so far?

Christy: My biggest achievement at university so far has been learning to manage the demands of my course as well as student life while navigating OCD. I’ve developed strong routines, self-advocacy skills, and coping strategies that help me stay organised and maintain my wellbeing. This progress has not only improved my academic performance but also boosted my confidence in handling new challenges. The consistent support from staff and my peers has only reinforced my ability to thrive at Surrey.

Jonah: My biggest achievement so far is honestly just making it to the 3rd year of my degree. It has not been an easy couple of years for many reasons but I do feel that I have got (even fractionally) slightly better at handling and taking care of myself. I certainly have a different outlook than I did last year, let alone 1st year. To anyone reading, please take care of your mental health! (And it sounds cliche, but) Go on walks, hang out with people, make time for the things you love - The degree is fine but you come first!

Sahil: At the risk of sounding unbelievably sappy, my biggest achievement I have had in university is being able to prove my pre-university doubts wrong. When I was 17, I felt like it was obvious that my life was going to end up as some kind of unmitigated disaster. I took a gap year before coming to university, going to counselling to try and improve myself mentally and provide myself the resources to maintain improvement for years after. I am happy to conclude that I am in a much, much better place than I was
years ago. The fact that I can say “I am an individual with unmedicated ADHD who is in University studying Final Year Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a station manager and a member of the student’s union, and I have a life outside that” is incredibly fulfilling, and very different to how I pictured things going years ago. I am really enjoying my time at University and that is because of the small steps I take every day to ensure that I am taking care of myself, accessing the university’s resources when I feel the need to and managing my neurodivergence. To anyone reading this who is in a similar place to where I was years ago, please don’t give up on yourself- you never know how wrong your preconceptions could be.

We want to thank Christy, Jonah and Sahil from Stag Radio for sharing their experiences as part of Disability & Neurodiversity Awareness Month. 

Want to find out more about Stag Radio and how to join their team? Click here for more : Stag Radio - Surrey Students' Union. 

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The My Lived Experience Project is run by The Student Equality Network, and is a student led initiative that aims to showcase different voices and perspectives, while also recognising and compensating the contributions of our members. From events and trips to blog posts, videos, and Instagram takeovers, we are passionate about showcasing student stories in all their forms. 

Through campaigns, events, paid opportunities and projects that celebrate diversity and amplify student voices, we encourage you to get involved with the Student Equality Network. Led by students, for students—make a change together. Find out more about the network here.