equal oppertunities monitering in forms

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miserablecow
miserablecow Non-active member Posts: 3
edited 22. Mar 2010, 10:15 in Living with Arthritis archive
HI! :D

(I thought I would introduce myself first.)

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with RA just over a year ago, though I had the symptoms for over 2 years before the diagnosis. I have been taking hydroxychloroquine (400mg daily), methotrexate (12.5 mg weekly) and folic acid (amongst other meds for other health problems). To be honest I was glad just to have some sort of diagnosis to the problems I was having with my ankles, shoulder, knee and hands. I'm really happy that the meds are working, though not the the extent I would like them to.


I am in the middle of completing application forms for a couple of MA courses. I was just looking at the equal oppertunities monitering sections and its asking:
"Do you have a disibility?"
and I honestly do not know what to tick, Yes or No. There is even a list of disibilities to tick and there isn't anything to do with arthritis in the list. I have never really thought of myself as a person with some sort of disibility, even though I do have problems with mobility etc...

Could anybody give some advice on what to do?

Thank you.

Comments

  • bubbles
    bubbles Non-active member Posts: 6,508
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi and welcome

    It might be worth taking a peek at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, they have various sections on disabilities that may help. Or ask at the college/university, they will have someone who should be able to advise on your form filling.

    Good luck with all the studies 8) xx Bubbles

    http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/[/url]
    XX Aidan (still known as Bubbles).
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,425
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello and welcome from me too :D:D

    Well done for being able to do your MA :D:D

    Sorry about the RA :(

    You dont sound like a miserablecow :wink: he he!!!

    Serioulsy though I would tick YES if you do have mobility issues as you dont want to be in an inaccessible part of the building do you?? Then write on the form what you have yourself.

    I honestly dont think it will go against you at all - unis and the like are pretty good equal ops wise and almost keen to have their quota of people who have disabilities :)

    Again well done and It IS good to meet you :)

    Love

    Toni xx
  • valval
    valval Non-active member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    frogmorton wrote:
    Hello and welcome from me too :D:D

    Well done for being able to do your MA :D:D

    Sorry about the RA :(

    You dont sound like a miserablecow :wink: he he!!!

    Serioulsy though I would tick YES if you do have mobility issues as you dont want to be in an inaccessible part of the building do you?? Then write on the form what you have yourself.

    I honestly dont think it will go against you at all - unis and the like are pretty good equal ops wise and almost keen to have their quota of people who have disabilities :)

    Again well done and It IS good to meet you :)

    Love

    Toni xx
    i agree with this the uni will contact you to see if you need anything special my youngest has no hearing in one ear and did put it on his form it did not go against him they just offered extra help if he needed it he did not but was nice knowing it was there
    val
  • woodbon
    woodbon Non-active member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi,
    I used to work in the Biochemistry Department of Oxford University, I delt with staff applicaions and I know the procedure we followed, was to give applicants a stamped envelope to send to the Staff Health doctor, and we never knew the results unless someone needed special aides, which they got. This is back in the 80s and 90s. As a postgraduate student, you would have come under my admin :shock: We prided ourselves about the numbers of staff and students in wheelchairs and other disabilities.

    So don't worry, but do tell them, as it will help them help you, and if you do feel you have a problem, the DDA is their to back you up. We also had inhouse Advisors who where just senior academic staff who helped postgrads with thier problems, but where not their tutors.

    Love Sue
  • salamander
    salamander Non-active member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi, I think you should tick 'yes' as they can give you extra support, like a laptop or anything else you might need. My friend's daughter had dyslexia and got quite a bit of help to get things.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi - I know what you mean about not thinking of yourself as being disabled. But Dorcas gave me some great advice - she said to consider saying I have a disabling condition - and that I had to admit was very true.
    I think it is worth ticking the box and explaining. That way if you have a flare up etc you will be able to get all the help you need. Uni's are very inclusive and will have policies etc in place to help you if needed.

    What are you doing your MA in?

    Speedalong
    PS Are you really a miserable cow?!!
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,425
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Speedalong
    PS Are you really a miserable cow?!![/quote]

    I asked that too :wink:

    he he!!

    Toni xx
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Non-active member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I'm not sure if you've already heard of this but you could claim 'disabled students allowance' while doing your MA. I did for both my BA and MA, it can provide support for you including providing note-takers and equipment.

    I would seriously recommend ticking yes as the uni will have policies in place to support disabled students. When doing my BA the uni had someone based at the library who you could ring and she would run around and get the books you need. At the uni where I did my MA they had rooms that you could have a sleep in during the day if you were struggling.
    You may be surprised what support is available. There is usually a department at the uni who's job is to determine that you are not disadvantaged by your disability.

    What are you doing your MA in? Good Luck!
  • miserablecow
    miserablecow Non-active member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thank you for the advice everyone :D

    ...I will tick the 'yes' box. Theres another list of the names of disabilities one of them "unseen disabilty: diabetes, asthma, epilepsy" and the other "disability not listed above". I think will be ticking the second one.

    Frogmorton and Speedalong: I'm happy to say I am not a miserable cow. Some of my friends and family call me that as I appear to be miserable but I'm not. :D

    Speedalong and jenzie06: I am applying for a MA in illustration and communication design. I'm quite nervous about applying. [/b]
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,425
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Didny think you were :wink:

    Good idea to tick the one not listed. More acurate.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Frogmorton and Speedalong: I'm happy to say I am not a miserable cow. Some of my friends and family call me that as I appear to be miserable but I'm not.

    Thanks for clarifying!!! Although everyone is entitled to be miserable occasionally!!!

    Speedalong

    PS let us know outcome of ticking the box ...
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.

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