I'm autistic and I have ADHD but I've also had history with mental health issues as well, particularly OCD.
The main symptom that impacts my studies is I experience a lot of fatigue and it's quite hard to plan around and it also causes periods of depression.

I'm dyslexic and I only found out when I was in my third year, just before my exams.

I have ADHD and dyspraxia and, just like you, I found out only about 6 months ago, almost three years into my doctorate.

Oxford is a lot for everyone.
But then I think as a disabled student you're also trying to deal with other stuff as well as that workload, which can be I think quite challenging sometimes.

When I went to offer holder days and open days, I spoke to the disability coordinator and she advised getting stuff in place as soon as possible.
I was actually quite pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too difficult.

You know, people used to joke, oh, imagine if you'd get extra time in an exam, ha ha.
But I never really thought that I actually would benefit from support.
But then it was quite easy to actually get some when I realised I needed it.

I'm a graduate student, I'm 30.
It's been, I think it's something that I've coped with for such a long time.
I was quite surprised at how kind of straightforward the process was.
It was nice that for me, there was an online screening tool.
Because of this, the online tool, I felt comfortable and confident to kind of advocate for what I needed.
Everyone was so supportive.
So, yeah, it's it's been a real, kind of, an affirming thing to kind of go through.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I completely agree with that.
It's things like being able to be honest in seminar discussions about how my thesis is going, the way that my brain is working.
I might need to sit strangely or I might need to stim or fidget to be able to focus.
Just having it written on my student support plan that that is a thing so tutors are aware of that has been really helpful and has given me a lot of peace of mind.

Take all the support that you can get.
If you can apply for Disabled Students' Allowance, get it.
The disability advisors kind of suggest things to you and you can consider if they're helpful.

Neurodiversity theory is the concept that all different kinds of brains exist in society naturally and that is a neutral and OK thing,
and that there's not one single way to approach the world or approach study.

I feel like the biggest barrier for me has been kind of my impostory brain thinking like, 'Oh my God, I've coped this long, do I deserve to kind of get this support?'
So I think that's probably been the main thing.
It's really helpful to then go and discuss with somebody else.

Just remember that the problem isn't with you.
It's not that you're not capable.
It's perhaps you need other adjustments that will kind of help you.

I think we forget that we're actually like, we're trying really hard and we're dealing with things that maybe not everyone else is.
You've got nothing to lose.
And for me, it really helped.

You are really supported in the process.
And all the other people are really, really kind and they're super accommodating and super nice.
If there is anything that the University can do for you, that's what they are here for.

The support that was available has made a big difference and has really helped and definitely, yeah, made a lot of things suddenly make sense.