Welcome to the Diverse-Abilities Blog!
The Diverse-Abilities Blog shares the lived experiences of fellow graduates and students identifying with a disability and marks the start of ongoing conversations about having a disability within today’s society, in particular, within the legal community.
Disability is inclusive of those that are physical and invisible to the eye. From physical impairments to psychological and neurotic tendencies, disability stands on a wide spectrum and is often 80% of the time unidentifiable at first glance.
ISSUE 3: OCTOBER 2023
Whilst employers and academic institutions were pressured to employ flexible working/studying arrangements during the pandemic, only some have continued to practice it, with others limiting.
Law student Kerry* joins us in our third issue of the Diverse-abilities Blog to talk about their experiences with Accessibility in the legal community.
*The name Kerry has been used to anonymise the identity of the interviewee.
What inspired you to pursue Law?
‘At the time, it seemed interesting and I enjoyed reading and writing. I’m glad that this has since been supplemented by the many things I’ve learned during my studies, because I don’t think those two things alone would have kept me going all these years.
I seriously respect people who can power through a whole degree (or two) on the basis of “might as well” or sunk cost fallacy. Academia is really, really draining for me so my motivation has to be genuine and considered, otherwise it’s not worth the toll it can take on my health.’
What does Accessibility mean or look like to you?
‘Accessibility is about empathy and action. It’s not just about waiting for a disabled person to speak up, but about designing society for disabled people.
‘Accessibility benefits everyone, not just disabled people.’
Has it affected your lived experiences?
‘It can be hard when you have to go through several layers of administration and bureaucracy just to get the one adjustment you need.
It’s frustrating when academics have just responded to an accommodation request with “no, you should consider just dropping the subject”.’
Where do you hope to see yourself in the next 5 years?
I would like to be working in some area of public interest law, but I have no idea how or where or what that would look like.
I would like to thank Kerry* for allowing me to share their voice and experience with ableism in the legal community. I hope this second issue of the blog will spur some reflection and understanding in those who read it.
For any inquiries and/or feedback, please feel free to contact me at disability@utslss.com. All correspondence will remain confidential unless specified otherwise.
ISSUE 2: SEPTEMBER 2023
Hyper-focus on capacity and performance has stigmatised perceptions on how to survive the competitively natured legal industry. This creates a culture which exacerbates ableist and dismissive experiences for disabled law students/graduates, particularly those with non-apparent disabilities.
5th year UTS law student, Alex*, joins us in our second issue of the Diverse-abilities Blog to talk about their experiences with ableism in the law community.
*The name Alex has been used to anonymise the identity of the interviewee.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
‘I graduated high school in 2013, went to a different uni, dropped out due to unmanaged mental health issues and worked for a bit before starting at UTS in 2018.
When I first started at UTS, I had failed several semesters due to personal circumstances, including my mental health, so switched to a part-time study load instead. Autumn 2023 is the first time I’m doing a full-time course load since 2020.’
What does ableism mean and look like to you?
‘In the context of legal studies and the legal profession, ableism looks to me like inflexibility and lack of empathy.
It looks like telling a student that the only way to be a lawyer is to accept burnout.’
Has studying in law been affected and/or impacted by your diverse-ability?
‘I think all law students will fall prey to the pressures of achieving what conventionally would seem to be the typical legal career, especially around clerkship season. But having a disability/ chronic illness/ mental illness makes achieving that ideal seem even more out of reach.
‘I feel myself setting impossible standards because I feel like I have to compensate for my disability.’
Many other disabled students, including myself, literally cannot work a full-time 9-5. So how are we supposed to keep up with colleagues who’ll keep working until 7-8pm or late?’
How have you been able to manage, combat, work or challenge these effects on your lived experiences?
‘I talk to other law students and lawyers with disabilities, who teach me how they deal with ableist society and remind me that it’s possible to get through it.’
I would like to thank Alex* for allowing me to share their voice and experience with ableism in the legal community. I hope this second issue of the blog will spur some reflection and understanding in those who read it.
For any inquiries and/or feedback, please feel free to contact me at disability@utslss.com. All correspondence will remain confidential unless specified otherwise.
ISSUE 1: APRIL 2023
UTS law student, Sam*, joins us in our first issue of the Diverse-abilities Blog to talk about their experiences identifying with a disability.
*The name Sam has been used to anonymise the identity of the interviewee.
What motivated you to share your story on the Diverse-Abilities Blog?
I’m interested in the representation of UTS Law students with a disability.
Do you publicly or openly identify with a disability?
Yes. Identifying as a disabled student has helped me access disability support and adjustments with less shame or self-denial.
It also helps me feel more connected with the community of amazing disabled leaders and activists.
Has the law community treated you differently compared to your peers in any way because of this or your diverse-ability?
When I have identified as disabled, people have outright asked me how and why, which can be uncomfortable.
In my experience, the issue that the profession has is not with disability per se but that the profession has to make accommodations.
‘It’s easier to say, “we’re okay with disabled people” than “we will do everything we can to provide access to disabled people”. The latter requires actual action.’
How does this make you feel?
‘Before I started identifying as disabled and connecting with organisations like Disabled Australian Lawyers Association (DALA) and Australian Network on Disability (AND), it was really isolating.
‘But meeting other disabled law students and lawyers has definitely helped to deal with these feelings of isolation.’
How have you been able to manage, combat, work or challenge these effects on your lived experiences?
Having these conversations help to remind me that it’s possible to get through it.
What would be your advice to fellow law students with diverse-abilities?
Connect with the disability community!
I would like to thank Sam* for granting me the privilege of being able to share their voice to start this open conversation about disability and law. I hope that this issue will spur some reflection and understanding in those who read it.
For any inquiries and/or feedback, please feel free to contact me at disability@utslss.com. All correspondence will remain confidential unless specified otherwise.