About me and why I am passionate about reducing barriers. 

Hello, I am Samantha, and here is a little about me:

 

I live with complex intersections of three types of neurodiversity and health conditions. I am the first person in my family to attend university and grew up in a disadvantaged area where addiction was rife and there was little opportunity. These intersections of neurodiversity went undiagnosed until my early 30s and this led to a deeply challenging life. I was labelled negatively and told by Doctors that I would "never achieve", I believed this, like many people do who have negative labels and judgements placed upon them. 

 

Once I learned that there was not something inherently wrong with me and I was neurodiverse; life began to make sense. I became empowered and began to challenge stereotypes like those that had oppressed me for 30 years. I decided to 'prove' those stereotypes wrong and educate myself entirely through self-directed study at home with the Open University. This was alongside balancing work, health, and other commitments.

In July 2025 I am extremely proud to say; that I will have a first-class honours psychology degree. And soon after this a Masters in Psychology. 

 

I met barriers every day, in the workplace, in higher education, when dealing with the public, and even when trying to pay bills. I began to challenge these, with the hope that it may create change for others as I did not want others to struggle. Off the back of wanting change; I completed a wonderful paid internship with the Open University within the Associate Lecturer Support and Personal Development team and the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility team. Here I used my lived experience to support change. I mentored staff, created learning resources for tutors, presented learning sessions, and started to write creatively about my experiences. The impact of my internship is that positive change has happened for future students and I increased understanding, which in turn reduced barriers. The teams I worked with genuinely cared about change, thank you to them.

 

I have a qualification in Peer-to-peer support work from the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NHS); this was a comprehensive course with ward placements where I used my lived experience of recovery to support people. Previous job roles have consisted of rehabilitation work where I supported people with acquired brain injury to lead meaningful and independent lives and working in a residential children's home. Alongside administration and customer care roles. 

 

I am committed to change, and an advocate for people who live with neurodiversity, or disability, or who face often other intersecting barriers. Because everyone deserves to access the world fairly. 

 

Published articles and conferences: 

 

• "Reflections of an ALSPD intern on a building belonging initiative" 

Published in: The Interns Magazine and The Open University People Services Newsletter - January 2025

 

• A poem (of sorts) on noise for neurodiverse students"

Published in: Tuition Talk; The Open University.

 

• Positionality; respecting those for their characteristics, not their titles.

(To be published in: The Open University Psychological Societies Newsletter)

 

• "The Gremlins- Let me introduce you to my gremlins; ADHD, OCD, and Autism.

(To be published within the Open University) 

 

• "Rock on superheroes; for all of us with a label"

Published in: The Hoot. 

 

Conferences:

• Accepted to present at Change Agents Network- May 2025.