RCVS and BVCIS Disability and Chronic Illness Spotlights

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Kind, loyal, determined.

My (dis)abilities from being autistic is so variable with my environment/situation; it can change from none to nonverbal within minutes.

Don’t assume we’re all on the same playing field; not all disabilities are visible

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Caring, adventurous, bubbly.

Disability can happen to anyone! It’s the one minority you can suddenly find yourself in, it was a grieving process to suddenly find out I couldn’t do what I could before.

We hide what we feel pretty well, but when we say it hurts, it REALLY hurts.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Unusual cow vet.

Being diagnosed as dyslexic as an adult explained why I struggled where my peers didn’t. Being dyslexic may also explain why I have thrived in farm clinical practice.

I can do the job requested of me, but I may need a little more time or other accommodations to do so.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Determined, hardworking, empathetic.

I have suffered from endometriosis since my teenage years and have had long covid since 2021.

Long covid is different for everyone, but for me, it has included fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, chest pain, and feeling faint.

Having to make daily bargains with your energy levels is physically and emotionally draining.

An adaptation that works for one person’s disabilities doesn’t work for all disabilities and fighting for the adaptations we need can in itself be exhausting.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Determined, compassionate, authentic.

Personally, navigating my chronic health conditions is a constant balance between managing my own energy and the expectations on myself, as well as those of others – especially when said challenges aren’t externally visible.

I’d say we need to bring more curiosity and compassion, both to step back and look at our own assumptions about disabilities, but also to ask more questions without judgement about how to support those in our teams in ways that work for them.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Advocate, Queer, Polish.

I’m one of the classic undiagnosed-until-adult AuDHDers (diagnosed with both autism and ADHD). Looking back at how dysregulated I was during school, I’m shocked that no one noticed. I’m proud to be neurodivergent but it comes with serious challenges that have massively impacted my journey through vet school – from struggling with executive dysfunction to being labelled as ‘rude’ when trying to communicate, not to mention the fact we’re living in a world that was just not designed with us in mind.

Communication is a two-way street and the focus shouldn’t be forcing neurodivergent people to change, but finding a way to get the message across to everybody. Be flexible in the way you communicate and if misunderstandings happen, work together to adapt for next time.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Passionate, hardworking, cats.

I suffer from poor mental health. It cripples my personal life and makes me very lonely. I have had public breakdowns, which have resulted in panic attacks and meltdowns. I am ashamed of it, because I don’t want people to think I am weak or pathetic. I already think I am unlikeable and unlovable, and I hate giving people even more reason to dislike me.

Please consider mental health a disability! Sometimes getting to work is an achievement.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Friendly, enthusiastic, a walker.

I've spent the past 3 years working as the D&N advisor for Surrey vet school encouraging students to be open about their conditions and pushing for change within the university system. My 8-year-old stepson has just been diagnosed with autism and I have a bad back, meaning I spend a lot of meetings on a treadmill as movement is better than sitting!

Most disabilities are hidden so always be kind, you never know what people have got going on behind the scenes. Be open to listening and learning when something is out of your experience.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Passionate, energetic, compassionate.

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness changed everything. It forced me to re-evaluate everything and do a lot of personal work. Initially this was terrifying and hard, but I wouldn’t be doing what I do now if it wasn’t for it. I understand so much more about the many facets of who I am and why I do the things I do. It also makes me more thoughtful about why others behave the way they do and for that, I am grateful.

Most people with disability are hiding in plain sight and are far more common than you think. It’s time that we push back in the internalised ableist narrative almost all of us have and are kinder to ourselves and others.