students' experience sharing

His times at UNNC was the most beautiful study experience he had ever had. Disaiblity Support gave him warmth and confidence and meanwhile made him an independent learner.

I declared my disability before I entered into UNNC. On the first day when I arrived, Disability Support arranged volunteers to help me settle down in the dorm. After that, I received professional assessment of my condition and a very detailed Support Plan was designed based upon the assessment and my difficulties. Highly appreciated to Disability Support, which gave me professional and humane support. Now, I communicate quite well with students and staff on campus. Or else, I will feel helpless and desperate.

I applied for Disability Support in preliminary year. Before I met the staff in Disability Support, I was in depression and anxiety without any solution because I knew if I fail the exam, I cannot progress to Year 1's study. After the staff explained to me about Disability Support, I felt much better. Although I could not overcome the difficulties completely and did as well as other classmates, all I needed to do was to do better than what I did previously. I needed time and support to overcome the scare deep in my heart and progressed gradually. Finally, I passed the exam successfully, with Disability Support and other tutors’ help, and I was very grateful to Disability Support in UNNC. This is a warm and valuable memory in my university life and I felt the kindness and care from my teachers and friends. I think I also have done a good job in my following study and been more adapted to the pace and intensity of study in UNNC. I want to say thank you to all teachers and friends who helped me at that time and if you have some difficulties that cannot overcome in a short time, there are always some people who care. Just talk to someone and don't fight alone.

When I came to UNNC at the beginning, I did not know Disability Support. At that time, it was hard for me to discuss with classmates during the seminars. Moreover, listening examination at preliminary year was a great challenge for me.

Then my personal tutor referred me to Disability Support. The staff in Disbaility Support is supportive and responsible to make reasonable adjustment for me. Firstly, I can wear headphones during the listening exams, which I benefited a lot; Besides, I was fortunate to be one of the first users of hearing loop system, which not only helped me to hear more clearly in the lectures and seminars, but also allowed me to participate more in the group discussion. Hearing loop system has greatly improved my learning efficiency and quality.

Now I will graduate from UNNC soon, for my university experience, from unsuitable to adaptive, Disability Support is very helpful to me. Thank you, UNNC! Please ask for help to the University without hesitate when you meet difficulties.

Before I accessed Disbaility Support, I often confused with teachers’ words for not hearing them clearly, and almost never heard what my mates had said, which seriously influenced my study efficiency and sometimes impacted the communications and interactions with others. However, these situations changed after I registered in Disability Support. I can hear teachers’ voice so clearly which I never experienced before. Hearing is no more an obstacle. Besides, I met a group of kind people, their patience and understanding made me feel less “isolated”. I suppose this is typical UNNC’s humanistic care and a unique experience I have in UNNC. I hope the inclusivity could always be here in UNNC in the future which provides diverse groups with equal opportunities.

When I chose UNNC after my college entrance examination, I did not realize the difficulty of an English teaching system. The listening problem was a huge challenge for me especially in English class and examination. I always did self-study after school and it occupied me a lot of sleep time.

It was in the summer vacation before I went to UNNC that I firstly saw a word named DS which full name was Disability Support in the admission brochure. I did not considered myself as a disabled person at that time.

UNNC students always receive an email from DS at the beginning of each term to introduce the service. I knew the staff in DS since the preliminary year, and there was only one staff in DS as Disability Support had just started in Ningbo campus. The first year was busy for me as I participated in a lot of activities and competitions, but I was always embarrassed during the classes. I could only understand a few words and could not distinguish some words which sound similar. Due to the self-esteem, I always pretended that I could catch up with the class and understood what the lecturers said. The bad experience did not improve even after wearing the hearing-aids. I was dispirited and self-doubt.

DS sent me an email said they could help me after I contacted them. After a discussion with the staff in DS, a Support Plan was designed baesed upon my condition, such as sending me ppts and notes before each class. For the examinations, which included a listening test, alternative exams were arranged which allwed me to take exams separately with some modifications of the listening part. It did save me and gave me confidence to take the examinations.

But I failed in the interview part of the examination. People with hearing difficulties are often afraid to speak to others and I am no exception. I was always worried about my pronunciations and embarrassed to ask people to repeat. DS understood my condition and appointed a staff in CELE to help me improve my pronunciations. The staff taught me a few sessions and recorded alphabet for self-study. It was really helpful, I felt more confident to speak English after these sessisons.

In Year two and three, the pressure of study was much higher than before and I was depressed. My personal progress was far more behind to the teaching scheme, and I was so anxious to complete the coursework in time. Therefore, I went to DS to ask for help again. Extra tutorials were arranged weekly, note-taker was arranged by excellent classmates which greatly release my stress. Most important of all, I was allowed to apply for extensions for coursework which ensured me extra time to complete the coursework. In the most stressful period, I went to Counseling on campus which also relieve my pressure and improve confidence.

Finally, I graduated and went to UCL for further study. DS as well as other staff in UNNC supported me in my whole college life. Without them, I may not graduate. Therefore, I  would like to express my deeply gratitude to all people who supported me in UNNC.