Visually Impaired Student Advocates for Equal Treatment in Higher Education

A student with a visual impairment expressed her desire for equal treatment during her university studies. Tilly Gerra, aged 20, who was born with under-developed eyes, is currently pursuing a journalism degree at the University of Northampton. She utilizes braille for her academic assignments and a cane for navigation across the campus. Ms. Gerra stated, “I’m just like everyone else. We need to treat everyone equally and assume disabled people are independent unless they tell you otherwise.” The student indicated her intentional decision to forgo a guide dog, humorously remarking that it would prevent her from entering local nightclubs and expressing a disinclination towards cleaning up dog waste. Nevertheless, Ms. Gerra recognized that living with a disability presents difficulties, particularly within the context of higher education. She noted, “Support for disabled students isn’t as prevalent at [secondary] school.” She further explained, “It’s tricky because [schools] are constrained by what they can provide due to their budget.” Ms. Gerra also pointed out that each disability is unique, and any delays in receiving financial assistance could significantly hinder a disabled student’s capacity to continue their academic pursuits. She remarked, “If I was in a situation where I needed more support, I wouldn’t know what to do.” Ms. Gerra concluded, “Luckily, I’ve been able to borrow equipment when needed, but if I hadn’t been able to, or didn’t have access to my [specialist] laptop, I don’t know what I would have done.” Amendment: This article has been amended to clarify that Ms Gerra’s comment about constraints referred to schools and not the University of Northampton. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.