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Disability can shape a person’s life long before they have a name for what they’re experiencing. Many students arrive at university already managing symptoms, limitations, and uncertainty - often without the language, support, or recognition that what they’re experiencing is disability.
For a long time, I didn’t know what was happening in my body, only that something was not quite as it should be. Coming to university made everything harder to ignore. Like many disabled students, that was the beginning of a long and complicated journey through the healthcare system.
I quickly learned that getting a diagnosis isn’t as simple as saying, “I’m unwell.” I faced a lot of doubt - the kind that makes you question yourself. I heard, “You’re too young for that,” and “It’s probably just stress.” When symptoms don’t show up on a test, you become your own evidence. And that is an exhausting role to play.
But this experience isn’t unique to me. So many disabled students navigate the same barriers:
• long waits for answers
• not being believed
• limited research or treatment options
• having to adapt before receiving support
• losing friends who don’t understand disability
Chronic illness can change your life suddenly. But the world around you doesn’t change at all. You learn that life becomes a constant act of navigation and management:
navigating symptoms, environments, and healthcare systems,
while managing pain relief, energy levels, and emotions. I had to learn to lower my expectations without lowering my sense of worth, to redefine what success looks like for me, and to adapt my environment instead of forcing my body beyond its limits.
Accessibility isn’t about giving up, it’s about making life fulfilling in a way that works for you. I’ve learned to celebrate small achievements, stay in tune with my body, and understand that rest is not failure, it’s necessary.
And while it took time (and still is an ongoing process) I eventually reached a place of acceptance. Even though it’s still hard, I can honestly say that I love my life. I’m grateful for the person I’ve become because of my disability. It has taught me strength, creativity, patience, and how to make my life restful, comfortable, and joyful while still keeping my passions alive.
Accessibility benefits everyone and harms no one. Making life easier for disabled people does not make life worse for able-bodied people. But many people are uncomfortable around disability, because it brings up fear of pain, fear of limitation, fear of vulnerability. But if you actually see disabled people, you will learn that life doesn’t end here. It changes, and it can still be rich, meaningful, and full of joy. Disabled bodies are not wrong. They are different, and difference is part of humanity.
When I couldn’t find a community, I decided to help build one. Now, Chronic Health Peer Support Group at the university supports many students who are navigating diagnosis, adjusting to accessibility needs, and learning to advocate for themselves - just like I did!
Disability History Month reminds us that disabled people have always existed, always contributed, and always needed community. It’s a call to ensure disabled students today aren’t left struggling in silence. The journey isn’t easy; some days, it’s incredibly hard. But it gets easier with community. It gets easier when we advocate together. And it gets easier when compassion leads the way.
Disabled voices matter. In our classrooms, on our campus, and in shaping a future that is accessible, informed, and inclusive for everyone.