School of Sociology and Social Policy

Adhiambo Ashall

MA Disability Studies | 2009 - 2011

About me
I have a background in Banking, Finance and Accounting. I have also been involved in Disability Equality Training and consultancy in a freelance capacity. I currently work for a Local Authority in a finance team.

My motivation to study
I came into contact with one of the most prominent Disability Equality Trainers whose level of knowledge and understanding of disability issues fascinated me immensely.

This wonderful person became my trainer and mentor and in the course of our interaction I learnt that he’d been to the University of Leeds and done the MA in Disability Studies there.

I immediately decided in my heart that I too, must enrol for the programme. The School of Sociology and Social Policy produces distinct fruit “by their fruits ye shall know them”.  

My experience
Having to work full-time in a completely unrelated field, the weekly lectures and seminars for the two academic years were prominent highlights of my life.

The most enjoyable element was the diversity that constituted the classes which brought with it eye-opening and thought-provoking real experiences from across the globe.

Being a part-time student, I think I had a privilege of getting “two for the price of one” in that I had the chance to spend more time with such wonderful lecturers and meet more students.

The school offers the most friendly help guidance and support from the point of application. This remained seamless until the end of my study.

Individual members have clear understanding of each other’s roles and signposting is done in the most natural way. I think the school as a whole in particular the Centre for Disability Studies stands out.

The programme
The programme was structured and delivered to the highest standard one could ever expect. Every module had direct connection to real life.

Lecturers brought every aspect of the course into a lived experience. The level and the manner in which support was provided by the School made the intensive programme manageable and joyfully achievable.

The availability of extra seminars and lectures from visiting speakers extended to horizons as to what a social science student ever dreams of.

In summary the course structure enables students to choose areas of interest to them, to fully explore and become an expert in it.

If anyone is thinking of doing sociology and social policy at any level, then Leeds should be the first if not the only choice!

My future
Having done my dissertation on Funding of Special Educational Needs (SEN) in England, I hope that there will be an opening in that area either for further study or work that would allow me to have an input into policy making. 

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