How To Cope At College With A New Disability
No one likes to imagine that something bad will happen to them. However, the fact is that
sometimes bad things happen to good people. One day you could be out enjoying college
life with your friends, the next you could be laid up in the hospital with a life-changing injury
after falling down the stairs after one too many drinks or being hit by a speeding car.
sometimes bad things happen to good people. One day you could be out enjoying college
life with your friends, the next you could be laid up in the hospital with a life-changing injury
after falling down the stairs after one too many drinks or being hit by a speeding car.
We don’t know what’s around the corner; an accident can happen to anyone at any time. The
results can be life-changing and can have a huge impact on your college experience and future.
Moving on after you’ve been involved in a serious accident that has left you with a long-term
disability is not easy.
results can be life-changing and can have a huge impact on your college experience and future.
Moving on after you’ve been involved in a serious accident that has left you with a long-term
disability is not easy.
However, if you don’t want to let your disability or what’s happened to you stop you from living life
to the full, then you need to ensure that you take steps to adapt to your new life. Just because you
need crutches or a wheelchair now, that doesn’t mean anything has to change - you can still do all
of the things that you love, you just need to change how you do some of them, that’s all.
to the full, then you need to ensure that you take steps to adapt to your new life. Just because you
need crutches or a wheelchair now, that doesn’t mean anything has to change - you can still do all
of the things that you love, you just need to change how you do some of them, that’s all.
To make coping at college with a new disability a little easier, below are some useful tips and
pieces of advice to take note of.
pieces of advice to take note of.
Don’t stop seeing your friends
Your disability does not have to define who you are. Always remember that. We all have battle
scars, yours might just be more visible than those that others have, but that doesn’t mean they
have to stop you. Any friends who are true friends will make an effort to see you despite the fact
that certain activities may be more difficult for you now.
scars, yours might just be more visible than those that others have, but that doesn’t mean they
have to stop you. Any friends who are true friends will make an effort to see you despite the fact
that certain activities may be more difficult for you now.
As well as seeing your close friends, it’s also important that you continue to
socialize with other people from your college. How about joining a society so that you can
meet some new people? If you’re into sports, it could be worth looking at what disability-friendly
sports teams your college has to offer. If you love being active, don’t let your disability put you off -
just think how many disability-friendly sports there are in the Paralympics!
socialize with other people from your college. How about joining a society so that you can
meet some new people? If you’re into sports, it could be worth looking at what disability-friendly
sports teams your college has to offer. If you love being active, don’t let your disability put you off -
just think how many disability-friendly sports there are in the Paralympics!
Seek support
Your college should be able to offer you a wide range of different support, from counseling and help
with accepting what’s changed to support taking legal accident against whoever caused your accident,
whether it was a pedestrian accident, a car accident, or an incident inside a business, you may well be
entitled to compensation, and your college’s support team can help you to deal with this aspect of your
recovery.
with accepting what’s changed to support taking legal accident against whoever caused your accident,
whether it was a pedestrian accident, a car accident, or an incident inside a business, you may well be
entitled to compensation, and your college’s support team can help you to deal with this aspect of your
recovery.
In addition to this, your college should also be able to offer special grants for helping your to
adjust to college life with your health changes. These can be used to convert your student
accommodation, for example, to make it more wheelchair-friendly.
adjust to college life with your health changes. These can be used to convert your student
accommodation, for example, to make it more wheelchair-friendly.
Be positive
Your life may have changed beyond recognition as a result of an accident but that doesn’t mean
that you can’t still have an incredible life. The fact is that if you are going to make the most of your
life, you need to remain positive. Yes, you may have had a bad time of things recently, but that
doesn’t mean your life is over. Be positive about your life and future, and you will soon see that you
can have an amazing life.
that you can’t still have an incredible life. The fact is that if you are going to make the most of your
life, you need to remain positive. Yes, you may have had a bad time of things recently, but that
doesn’t mean your life is over. Be positive about your life and future, and you will soon see that you
can have an amazing life.
Adapting to a serious or life-changing injury while you’re still young and at college isn’t easy, but the fact
is it is possible to do so. There will be hard times ahead, times when you feel like giving up, but don’t
give in, do your very best to stay positive.
is it is possible to do so. There will be hard times ahead, times when you feel like giving up, but don’t
give in, do your very best to stay positive.
