People often say that their youthful years of tertiary study were the best years of their lives. They don’t mean the hours spent listening to boring lecturers or cramming for exams, they’re talking about the friendships made and the new horizons explored through students clubs, societies and activities. More broadly, they’re recalling the exhilarating sense of independence that comes from having your own choices, your own plans and your own place in the world for the very first time.

While many universities and TAFEs provide funding and support to help young students navigate their classes, there is often little or no structured support to encourage them in reaching for those everyday goals of friendships and fun in their lives as students.

This presentation aims to examine what supports can, and should, be provided to students so that they can have a life of their choosing during their studies. What can be done to help students find social activities which suit them, and to make sure they’re accessible? Should tertiary institutions help students overcome what can sometimes be isolating high school experiences, or should students fend for themselves? Does it have to cost a lot of money to help students enjoy their tertiary experiences, or is it a matter of good planning?

Answering these questions is critical to producing well rounded and work ready graduates with disabilities able to apply not just text book learning but age appropriate life skills to their goals.