Inspirational students to share their story at disability forum

From left: USQ students Christine Casey, Laura Scurr and Dean Gordon will share their stories with 20 students from Toowoomba State High school as part of a disability forum at the University on Monday.

High school students with a disability from Toowoomba State High School will hear about the opportunities for study available to them at USQ as part of a panel discussion to be held at the University during Disability Action Week.

Around 20 students plus staff from the school will attend the forum next Monday (September 15), where several USQ students and staff will address them regarding their experiences and the services available at each of the University's three campuses.

'Each of our students will talk about their time at USQ and how each of them has found studying here at the University,' USQ technical support assistant and forum organiser Anne Coy said.

'They, along with some of our staff members, will also talk about the supports that we offer.'

Mrs Coy added that the experiences related by the USQ Panel would serve as encouragement for those who wished to undertake tertiary study.

'All four of the students who will speak have overcome various challenges and are all very inspirational,' she said.

'Here at USQ we have a focus on equity and diversity, which is a very important message to relate to high school students with disabilities to demonstrate that they can study at University.'

General studies student Dean Gordon, who will address the forum, is one of approximately 500 registered students with a disability at USQ. Dean said that he was looking forward to sharing his story.

'I have found studying at this University an absolute joy and all of my lecturers and the students have been very helpful,' Dean said.

'I cannot wait to speak to the students about the support here at USQ, which is second to none.'

Dean, who has an acquired brain injury, is living proof that anything is possible.

'Studying at university is something that doctors never thought would be possible, so to be studying makes me feel like I am achieving something good.

'I am blessed that I am able to study and being here really makes me feel like I don't have a disability.'

The panel discussion will get underway in T125 from 10:30am on Monday with the media welcome to attend the event.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559