Last night was quite cool in the end. Bout 7.30 I was scouting about, wondering whether there was anything decent on at the arts centre – which there wasn’t – when I noticed them setting up for live music. I came back home, blogged and did a couple of chores, and headed back out about 8.30. Dan was organising it. His girlfriend, Vikki, graduated with me; she was there and we got chatting. It seems she now works at some kind of day centre for disabled people, running writing workshops. She explained to me how the ‘service users’ lack confidence. They constantly see barriers. Vicks told me about how she was trying to start a magazine with them, and asked me to write something positive for it.

Knowing today was going to be busy – I want 1000 more words on my thesis before lunch – I decided to go home to write. It only had to be short. I jotted the following:

” You often assume, being disabled, life will somehow be limited. You assume that many boundaries face you, and that you can never do the things your peers do. I one assumed this – I never thought I’d get to university, or have friends, or go on nights out. I was wrong, and it amuses me how wrong I was. I am now a graduate of Manchester metropolitan university, graduating with a first class honours degree, but there was a time when my parents were told I wouldn’t be able to do GCSEs. It would seem I have proved my teachers wrong.

As a masters student I live quite independently. I have Pas to help me get up in the morning, to help with meals, and to help with nights out. Boy, during my undergraduate years, I had some right laughs. I drank too much, often crashing my power chair. But then, that is basically what university is about – having fun. Being disabled does not exempt you from this. in fact, I found it made things more exciting.

With the right help, anyone can achieve anything. This is why, when Vikki asked me to write this short piece, I jumped at it. Disability does not connote boundaries. You, me anyone can achieve anything they put their mind to. The sky is the limit.’

I printed it off and sped back to the bar. Vikki smiled – I think I’m in her good books.