A colleague got in touch recently to ask whether I knew about an article written about a visit I made to the University of Leicester last year to talk about where autism, neurodiversity, disability and classics cross and connect.
I didn't know about it. But when I clicked the link, what I found there floored me, in a wonderful way.
The article is here.
It's by Emma Astra AKA The Disabled PhD Student. Emma sets out what it was like for her attending the different phases of the day, starting with an informal drop-in, continuing with lunch at a cafe on campus, then having tea and cakes in the foyer of one of the university buildings and finally attending a more formal presentation from myself, though where participants had the option of a colouring in activity.
 |
| Space to connect at Leicester University's Percy Gee Building. Photo Ashley Drake. Sourced from Wikimedia Commons |
The article beings with the header: 'How and why I changed my perspective of Greek Tragedy because of Professor Susan Deacy'.
I'm not going to summarise what Emma says because I can't do justice to it. Here, though, are a few points I want to get down - including so that they can serve as actions points for myself:
- Informal drop-in sessions: these should become a thing!
- The 'crossroads' image is worth keeping pursuing
- Opportunities for conversations in non-formal settings like such are worth having. As Emma writes, it's here that 'the most connecting and experience arises'
- Colouring in is 'therapeutic'. There need to be more colouring in opportunities
- Hercules can resonate in unexpected ways
- Emma's medium site and PhD blog are wonderful places
- So too is the work of Andrew Hugill, author of the Autistic Professor blog
- 'Hybrid events are important' for disabled people just as Emma says.
 |
| University Road Sign designed by Freepik. Attribution here |
