{"id":20908,"date":"2022-04-28T07:00:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T06:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=20908"},"modified":"2022-04-28T07:00:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T06:00:54","slug":"im-advocating-for-the-rights-and-equality-of-people-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/student-stories\/im-advocating-for-the-rights-and-equality-of-people-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m advocating for the rights and equality of people with disabilities\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steven Sutherland from Kilbarchan near Glasgow is on a mission to create positive change for the disabled community.<\/p>\n

An established disability rights advocate and former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, 27-year-old Steven is now studying a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree<\/a> with The Open University. He\u2019s determined to use his qualification to progress in his career \u2013 with ambitions to one day become Scotland\u2019s First Minister.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is to become a Member of the Scottish Parliament to support and advocate for the rights and equality of people with disabilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s imperative that we provide new and innovative ways to support people with disabilities, regardless of what that disability is, so that everyone has the right support to get through education, to get through mainstream society, and to have an equal chance as their able-bodied peers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A passion for championing others<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Steven, who is visually impaired, had a stroke six months after being born and found his passion for supporting others while volunteering with charities such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).<\/p>\n

He\u2019s since gone on to represent visually impaired people in the Scottish Parliament and continues to advocate for people with disabilities around the world.<\/p>\n

But to create lasting change, Steven realised that gaining a degree and a broader understanding of how policies affect people could open even more doors. That\u2019s why he chose to study Law with the OU.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaw was something that I was interested in doing because it goes hand in hand with politics and you can’t really have one without the other,\u201d said Steven.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving Law on my CV will give me an advantage in terms of being involved in politics. It will be good to have that legal knowledge so that I can hopefully put forward new ideas that may strengthen current or future policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also want to challenge policies that don\u2019t benefit people who are disabled and don\u2019t create equality.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The support to succeed<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Steven admits that returning to study so many years since he left school was initially daunting. Thankfully, he found the OU community incredibly welcoming and supportive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OU tutors have been absolutely fantastic from the start,\u201d he said, going on to praise the community of students, who he stays in touch with online and through WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

Steven also found the OU\u2019s introductory Access module a great way to boost his confidence before he committed to a full degree. The short course enabled him to get a feel for supported distance learning and the subjects before diving in, which made all the difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cI completed the Access module with a 73% overall score and then when I did my first year in Law, I got a Distinction grade of 88%. I believe that was a direct result of my participation in the Access module.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking down barriers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Steven is especially passionate about breaking down barriers that many disabled people face in education and the workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisability is something that can affect literally anyone, regardless of race, regardless of gender, regardless of anything else,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about mitigating some of those unnecessary barriers and taking those away. The system can be very easy to fall through if you don’t have that support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now part-way through his degree, Steven is setting his ambitions high.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe overall goal after I\u2019ve graduated would be to continue to advocate for people with disabilities across Scotland and across the UK,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI\u2019m under no allusion that it\u2019s going to take some time, but eventually I would like to try to become an MSP where I can advocate within Parliament. If I do get elected in the future, then I want to continuously make the public aware of issues that affect people with disabilities and for others.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to work my way through the ranks and hopefully get as high as I can. Who knows, maybe one day I could become First Minister of Scotland!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Advice for future students<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For anyone considering pursuing their own goals through a qualification, Steven had this advice:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy advice and encouragement would be, if you have any thoughts that prevent you from studying with The Open University \u2013 put those aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Open University is a very inclusive way to learn, it\u2019s a very open way to learn. It\u2019s got a lot of avenues of support, whether it be from the tutors, the student support team, or the students themselves. Don\u2019t let any inhibitions get in the way of studying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Generation Change: Ones to Watch <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Steven is one of the incredible OU students featured in \u2018Ones To Watch\u2019, the co-branded docuseries with the OU and MTV Generation Change.<\/p>\n

In each episode, host Henrie Kwushue meets the OU students that are not only changing their futures \u2013 but are busy tackling global issues related to the environment, equality and health. Watch the first episode featuring Steven below.<\/p>\n