By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management
I am currently in my third year at the University of Sheffield, studying International Business Management. But there’s something about me that people wouldn’t know at first glance; I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). It is an invisible illness that creates significant body pain, intense fatigue and extreme sensitivity to noise and light. This illness has severely impacted on various aspects of my life, making it harder to study due to brain fog and fatigue, and preventing me from doing as many social activities as other students.
I decided to write this to help current or potential Sheffield students who may also be struggling with an illness or disability. I’ll discuss techniques that helped me manage my studies, some of the tools I wish I’d known were available to me, and some things I’ve learnt along the way.
The first and most important thing I want to tell you about is the Disability Students Allowance. The DSA is a government-funded grant that you can apply for alongside your maintenance loan, that provides financial support for those whose disability might cause extra costs while at uni. This could range from a taxi to and from campus, to laptops, or even tools that can read out documents for you! Applying for the DSA can take some time, so I recommend starting the process when applying for your maintenance loan to make sure your funds are ready once you start your degree.
The DSA can also send your disability report to Sheffield’s Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS), to make the university aware of your needs ready for when you arrive.
And that brings me onto my second point – make sure to communicate with the DDSS; they can help liaise with your course representative, making sure you have all considerations needed – whether that’s extended deadlines, extra exam time or special considerations with regards to results.
For me, one of the hardest things was accepting that it wasn’t cheating to have the extra considerations – I hated using my illness as an excuse. The toughest lesson for me was learning that it is not an excuse, it is a reason and it is legitimate. However, if you feel uncomfortable using these services, there is a society for people who have disabilities called ‘dyslexic and disability students committee’ which contains students who can understand what you’re going through, provide support and a unique form of friendship.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you have a disability! A major thing for me was finding people who accepted and were considerate of the fact that I needed to sleep more than most students and wouldn’t be able to just go out randomly. I need a few days to prepare for a night out, and a few days after to recover. The biggest way to socialise at University seems to be drinking and clubbing, so when I couldn’t do this, it was hard and made me feel like I was missing out. However, when I found the right friendship group, they made sure that the social activities were ones I could be involved in, and make sure I felt included on the nights out, even when I didn’t go. Do not push yourself, do not be afraid to tell your friends your limits, and find people who respect them.
if you need them and there is a wide range of sports and activities that you can try. I joined the University volleyball team; this gave me the chance to go to different cities to play games, but more importantly I met a lot of new people from around the world with who I now spend time with on a daily basis.
