Positionality Statement
I have chosen to write and focus on accessibility within my paper, specifically I will be focusing on the impact ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADD has within education and how myself, as an educator, can make an impact on student experience. My own experiences have without a doubt contributed to this influence and my desire to teach. Growing up I personally hated school, I had incredibly poor attendance, and no matter how hard I tried I was never able to achieve the goals I set for myself, which led to very low self esteem.
Years later – after focusing on what is typically considered to be a non-academic course, graphic design, I found myself at university and again further struggling to achieve academic targets. Within my time studying at Falmouth university I was incredibly fortunate to have been taught by a tutor who informed my class about the accessibility department and professionally and non judgmentally explained experiences of some of his previous students and a close relative without any stigma attached.
This simple act of advising students (something no one had ever done with me up until this point) to read more into SpLD’s (Specific Learning Difficulties) has entirely changed my life – I was recommended to look into ADHD alongside other SpLDs and I found myself reading paper after paper of what felt like case studies of my life – something I often hear from students who talk about an ADHD diagnosis. Shortly after I received an SpLD diagnosis I then further seeked a medical diagnosis. Most importantly this resulted in me receiving one-to-one mentoring from the amazing Anne Betteridge, ADHD Coach and Mental Health Mentor, who without a doubt absolutely changed my life. This intervention and education on how best to focus my energy and formulate strategies resulted in a complete turnaround of my academic grades. The positive impact this had on my life is something I will never take for granted. As a result, I now make it a point to inform all my students about the accessibility services available to them.
As a result this has led me to focus on accessibility at the core of my teaching as I have experienced the truly transformative experience that education can have on life. Further to my teaching practice at UAL I privately tutor with a specialisation of ADHD within the arts – however, do not hold any specific qualifications in this area – albeit this is something I would like to pursue.