Moving Up, Moving On STEM Disability Transition Group Conference 12 th July 2013, Institute of Physics

Summary An overview of the experiences and challenges encountered by an ex Royal Holloway disabled student in his pursuit of a career in the IT industry.

Introduction Interest in technology. Where did it all begin? – Being given a Braille Lite 2000 electronic Braille note-taker device for school work. – Acquiring a home computer preloaded with screen reader software.

Introduction (Continued) Interest in technology. Where did it all begin? – Designing a calculator application capable of adding and subtracting 60 digit integers as part of A-Level Computing coursework.

Progressing to University Keele University: – The Subject Quandary: Computer Science or History? – The Challenges of obtaining Timely Equal Access to Information.

Causes of Degree Dissatisfaction Keele University: – Perceived Curriculum Irrelevance. – Difficulties of juggling time between study preparation and performing actual study.

Transitioning Elsewhere Transferring to Royal Holloway – Choosing Computer Science Single Honours. – Interaction with a single academic department. – Exposure to robotics programming.

Royal Holloway (Continued) Strengths – Stimulating Curriculum. – Accessible campus environment. – ESO assistance.

Royal Holloway (Continued) Weaknesses – The Language Barrier. – Unwillingness to Adapt Teaching Styles. – Diagram Complications.

The World of Work Accessible Technology Consultancy – The National Archives. – The BBC.

The World of Work Challenges – Failure to graduate.

Conclusion Things to Consider – Disability is NOT incapability. – Science and Technology should be an attractive area for disabled students. – Making adjustments to accommodate disabled people benefits others.

End of Presentation Thank you for your attention.