HE Enabled: The Disability at Uni* Podcast

CW: This episode contains references to the COVID pandemic, plus mentions of prescription drug use, sex, and alcohol consumption (in particular at timestamps 11:47-11:51 and 18:25-18:36) About the episode: Sarah is an award-winning Learning Developer at the University of Manchester library, and a member of the UK Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network (NLISN). She’s also part of a gr...

CW: This episode contains passing references to the COVID pandemic. About the episode: Thea is a student at the University of Bristol, where she is studying for a BSc in Social Policy and Politics. She is currently taking part in the Change 100 internship programme, and is preparing to start a master’s in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation at Oxford. In this episode of HE Ena...

Abhishek is a student at Queen Mary, University of London, where he is currently studying for an MRes in Human Rights Law. He also received his LLB and LLM degrees from QMUL. I had the pleasure of meeting Abhishek late last year, and spoke alongside him at the Disability History Month event hosted by Dan (a previous guest and friend of the show). We spent this episode discussing Abhishek's exp...

CW: This episode contains passing references to the COVID pandemic and negative mental health episodes. Episode info: Kai is a student at the University of Manchester, reading for a PhD in Pure Mathematics. Their thesis focuses on density combinatorics of amenable groups using ergodic methods (which is explained briefly in the episode!). Kai is also the PGR co-chair of Manchester’s Neurodivergent...

CWs: Mentions of addiction (6:12-6:21), miscarriage (13:06-13:19), and eating disorders (22:46-22:53). Episode info: Kelly is on HE Enabled this week! Kelly is a programme manager at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she manages the Laidlaw Scholarship! Kelly works incredibly hard in developing inclusive experiences for the scholars, so that they turn into ethical l...

CW: Indirect mentions of self-harm in relation to being sectioned under the Mental Health Act (35:26-35:52) Alicia is a student at the University of Lancashire (previously UCLan) studying for a BA in applied community and social care studies. They have returned to the same university after over 15 years away and are massively involved in student voice. In fact, they’ve just been elected as the stu...

CW: Mentions of skeletons used for archaeological research, including child skeletons and skeletons with tissue (26:40-26:52). Discussion of the COVID-19 lockdowns throughout. ⁠⁠⁠ Anna is a graduate of Newnham College, Cambridge (BA Hons. Archaeology) and the University of East Anglia, where she graduated with an MA in the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. We learn about Anna's largely...

Fliss is the founder of the AuDHD Coach, a neurodiversity coaching service specialising in burnout, self-compassion and reconnecting with creativity.  They are also currently a postgraduate student at Coventry University, completing a return to practice programme after originally graduating from the University of East Anglia, where they trained as a speech and language therapist. Fliss is currentl...

Katie is a lecturer in Language and Communicative Development at the University of Manchester, where she also researches at the Child Study Centre. Katie shares how she pursued a late autism diagnosis after struggling with burnout while transitioning into lecturing. Since then, she has worked tirelessly for neurodivergent justice in Manchester and beyond. She is currently working on projects with...

⁠⁠ CW: Brief mentions of an ED and experience of contamination OCD (8:19-10:16). Danilo is the Disabled Students' Officer at UCL, where he has been studying part-time for a degree in ancient languages. We talk about how Danilo has been on the committee for 60 different societies, his passion for inclusion, and the tireless effort he has put into making UCL a more accessible place for all. Dani...

Oscar is a mechanical engineering student at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is also the chair of the Disabled and Neurodivergent Society. Our conversation goes through Oscar's entire time at uni. He shares how he changed trajectory after diagnoses of FND and non-epileptic seizures at 17, and came to Manchester Met with no support worker at his welcome week. Since then, Oscar has...

Talia is an MLitt student at the University of St. Andrews, where they co-convene the Disabled Students Network. Cath learns about Talia's struggle navigating their university after becoming a wheelchair user halfway through their degree, and how this is a significant barrier to accessing their studies. We also have a great chat about birding communities, nature photography, and looking outsid...

CW: This episode contains mentions of cancer diagnosis andincurable cancer. Thank you to the wonderful Professor Jackie Carter forcoming on the show! Jackie is a professor emerita from the University of Manchester, where she was a professor in statistical literacy. She is also the host and founder of the University of Manchester’s Let’s Talk Disability Podcast. This show works on turning the feedb...

This is a collaboration with the 21andsensory podcast! Listen to Emily's show via the ⁠Linktree here⁠ . I can't wait to be on 21andsensory at the end of the month. We talk about Emily's experience of university. This includes discovering her dyslexia diagnosis through a university-funded initiative, hyperfocusing on coursework in her graphic design degree, and her current work as a fre...

Lewis is a recent graphic design graduate from Edinburgh Napier university and the founder of Position Photography. We chat about what university was like for him, including his experiences of entering a university at second year, group work, and working with vague design briefs. Lewis also gives advice for those looking to start up a business after university or college. ⁠⁠Click here to join the...

⁠Read the Disabled Student Survey 2025 by clicking here. ⁠ In this episode, Cath and Murrin discuss the 2025 Annual Disabled Student Survey. We walk through the paper, share lived experiences related to the questions, and think about what institutions can do next to make the disabled student experience the best that it can be. Thanks to Disabled Students UK (DSUK) for sponsoring this episode! Here...

CW: Reference to suicide in literature (32:08-32:19) ⁠ ⁠Click here to join the HE Enabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree by clicking here. ⁠ Olly and Amelia join Cath to discuss their experiences as neurodivergent students and consultants. Olly walks us through how he re-entered academia after a significant time away, an...

Click here to join the HEnabled Patreon for £1 a month!⁠ ⁠Follow the show on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree by clicking here. Thanks again to Lisa for coming on the show at such short notice! We had a great discussion about her late diagnosis of autism, which went undetected throughout university and some of her working life. Lisa also talks how she found out about her...

Click here to join the HEnabled Patreon for £1 a month! Follow the show on social media and listen on other platforms via the Linktree by clicking here. Interested in Emma's PhD Participatory Research Network? Click here to find out more. In this episode, Emma shares their experiences as a multiply neurodivergent person who has attended five different universities. They run us through the tool...

Nicola shares her experience with cystic fibrosis as a student, as well as what motivates her to engage with disability advocacy. We also discuss how experiences can be improved for all disabled students (and staff) in universities, and how self-kindness can go a long way for those completing a PhD while managing a chronic illness. Thanks for tuning in! Here are some links that you may be interest...

Watch Sarah's research talk by clicking here (Youtube link). Sarah talks about her experiences as a disabled person with relatively late diagnoses of dyspraxia and ADHD. We discuss her research about the (less than ideal) representation of disabled students in architecture school, and the barriers that she faced while having her needs met at university.

Find out more about Daniel's Disability History Month event on the 4th of December 2025. It's fully hybrid (and I will also be speaking!): https://www.qmsu.org/event/21589/ In this episode, Daniel shares his positive experiences of starting university in the pandemic, founding the society for Neurodivergent and Disabled Students (SANDS) at QMUL, and helping other neurodivergent/ disabled s...

Follow the Neurodiversity Architecture Network on Instagram by clicking here . In this episode, Luisa shares how definitions of disability can vary across cultures. This, alongside a lack of information about the Equality Act 2010, caused significant barriers to her receiving support at university for depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Luisa and Cath also discuss the founding of the Neur...

Cath thought that talking about budgeting was important but too boring. They tell you what they did to get free/cheap food and drink, nights out, and reduce their bike servicing fees while at university. Learn how to make your money go further without having to live like a monk!

Steph talks about their struggles receiving student support for Chrons, as well as how their neurodivergence impacted their symptoms while at university. Steph's PhD work in gamifying online studies is also discussed, alongside their freelance role in making video games more cognitively accessible for all.