Katrina Austin
When she was 17, Katrina Austin was in a car accident, damaged her spine and was left with a permanent disability. She was in constant pain and unable to work. However, she went to college and, starting from scratch with no qualifications, is now studying a degree in Psychology at Staffordshire University.
After beginning with Basic Maths, English and Computing courses, she went on to complete an Access to Higher Education course.
Studying for a degree in Psychology has made an immense difference to the way that Katrina sees the world. This has benefited her in her role as a foster carer for teenagers and the volunteering she does with the Phab Freewheelers – a local group for disabled people – organising theatre trips, arts and crafts, and beauty therapy.
As a result of her disability, Katrina is only able to learn on a part-time basis. She has also had to overcome a number of physical barriers, ranging from accessibility issues to problems taking notes and sitting exams.
“Living with constant pain is very difficult to cope with,” she said. “Being able to get up and go to college, and now university, gives me a great sense of achievement. Learning means everything to me; it has truly been the thing that has helped me through the most difficult times of my life. Learning has enriched my life on every level and, as a mature student, I have learnt to love learning.”