Returning to university was never my plan until the Pandemic hit. The restrictions on travel and competition cancellations forced me to think about my life without sport. During lockdowns, I signed- up for free online courses* which really sparked my interest in pursuing formal study again. Hopefully, I have many years left in my sporting career, but planning for the future and life after sport is always a good idea.

Advancements in technology have made studying far more accessible compared to when I last attended university via distance education, over 10 years ago. Many subjects have content all online, including the assessments. Lectures and workshops are interactive over video conferencing so you can ask questions and talk to peers in real-time. Even the required textbook for my course is online and using the text-speech function on my smartphone I can listen to it or read it.

Going to university is a huge decision and challenging with or without a disability. So, it is important to do your research and seek advice. Most universities have Disability Support Services which can provide information to prospective students. Ask about modifications available to accommodate your disability including accessible infrastructure, equipment hire, academic alterations, technical adjustments, career outcomes and scholarships.

So far, my return to university has been a positive experience. It is great to have another focus outside of sport and a long-term goal that I am working towards. Time management is definitely one of the biggest challenges, fitting in studying around training and general life stuff takes a lot of planning, prioritising, and flexibility.

Unfortunately, according to the Bureau of Statistics people with disabilities are more likely to have no post-school qualifications and less likely to have a bachelor’s degree or higher than non-disabled people. What has been your experience going to university with a disability?

* For free online courses from universities worldwide look up ‘Massive Open Online Course’ or MOOC. These courses do not count as credit (unless you enrol and pay for the certificate) but will give you the opportunity to explore different fields of study.

About the Author:

Susan Seipel is a diverse para-athlete with a background in swimming, equestrian, and is a triple World Champion in the sport of Paracanoe.

She won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and was the first Australian in history to win a medal in Paracanoe at the Paralympic level. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Susan won a silver medal in the inaugural women’s canoe event. She is currently training for Paris 2024.

Outside of sport, Susan is a proud ambassador for RSPCA Queensland and is passionate about animal welfare. She is also studying Psychology at university.

http://www.susanseipel.com