The negative experiences I had
with working convinced me to be my own boss and reduce differences in services.
At the time, I hoped to develop a magazine as a platform for people with
disabilities, one that not only added clarity but also included a lighter look
at the every day life of a person with a disability. I wanted to publish stories about people's
life accomplishments, take a humorous look at the stigmas that still surround
people with disabilities, and have all the features of a regular magazine. Above all, I wanted to show readers that
people are more similar than they are different, with or without disabilities.
I was confident about the content
of my future magazine but didn't know anything about publishing. I decided to visit a graphic services
department to see how they could transform my idea into reality. I spent three days shadowing different people
and learned about design, editing, writing, printing, and how to put it all
together into one final project. The last day, my mind was made up! I really loved the design aspect of
publishing and what could be done with a computer. I felt passionate enough that I wanted to go
back to school and become a graphic designer.
I started to look into different
schools where I could take Graphic Design. However, I would need assistive
technology to make the most of the course. The Developmental Disability
Resource Centre (DDRC) worked with me to assess my needs and find the best
solution, which turned out to be a joystick and laptop (it is easier for me to
control a joystick than a mouse). I
received funding to purchase a laptop so I could do my work anywhere I wanted. I then looked into two different schools: the
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), which offered a five-year
program and classes mainly at night; and the Academy of Learning, which was
recommended to me by a woman at the DDRC. I decided to pursue the program at
Academy of Learning because it was less than a year and the classes were during
the day.
Before I could apply to the
program, I needed grade 12 English and Math credits. My high school diploma was
based on modified program requirements, so I hadn’t yet passed the public
curriculum diploma exams. I spent six
months studying for the exams and the experience is nothing but a blur of
frustration. I do remember wanting to
give up, and constantly telling myself, "Maybe people were right when they
said that I can't have dreams or goals." I had never given up on anything in my life,
so I convinced myself to carry on with my education. After writing the
multiple-choice exam, I was scared to hear the results. When I heard that I
passed, I broke into tears. I felt
incredibly proud that I was on my way to becoming a graphic designer.
The Graphic Design program was 43
weeks and 28 courses long. It allowed each student to progress at his or her
own pace because it consisted of individual study. I arranged to have extended time limits on my
coursework so that I had enough time to understand the material before moving
on. I would go to the computer lab at the Academy of Learning during the week
to work on the courses. We needed to do
25 hours of work per week, and could do it either at home or school, but I
liked getting out of the house and doing most of it at school. Still, I kept working
on my courses at home and did it when I felt most productive—usually after midnight.
I am definitely a night owl. It also meant I didn't have to deal with
commuting in bad weather.
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