³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Ouch! has announced that three new disabled students will share their experiences of university life online for the first time.

The participants' online video diaries reveal what life is really like as a disabled undergraduate and will be available on bbc.co.uk/ouch.

It's not just about books and booze, our diarists have other interesting challenges ahead of them: being able to participate in lectures, breaking the ice with fellow students and living independently are just three.

Damon Rose, senior producer of the Ouch! website, says: "Leaving home, finding new friends, navigating new terrain and living independently can be tricky enough tasks but when you have to deal with them all in one go, it can be chaotic and nerve-wrecking.

"I often speak with new disabled students who are taking on a small workforce of assistants to help with their 24-hour care, for instance. Not many 18-year-old students have to think about staff management, insurance and payroll.

"The experience of the disabled student can be really very different to that of their new friends in halls."

Follow the fortunes of our three first years, Andrea, Charlotte and Lee, in their studies and social lives at the start of the new academic year, and then catch up on their progress each week with their individual diaries.

Andrea will be starting a degree course in sociology at the University of Warwick. She will live at her parents' home for the first year as she values their support. Andrea has a visual impairment and uses a guide dog to get around. She hopes to widen her social circle at university.

Charlotte lives in Oldham, Lancashire and will be leaving home to study film and cultural studies at Lancaster University. Charlotte is quadriplegic as a result of being born with cerebral palsy. She feels that going to university will be her first chance to have a teen lifestyle.

Lee is set to start a course in deaf studies at the University of Bristol; he hopes to become a sign language interpreter. He has both Tourette and Asperger syndromes; closely related, they affect critical thinking, bring on nervous tics and anxiety. Lee's looking forward to joining some of the clubs on offer at Bristol as well as developing some strong friendships.

The new diaries are live and can be seen by visiting bbc.co.uk/ouch.

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Ouch! is about life, living, creativity, community, humour and the wider view of life as a disabled person. The website reflects experiences and thoughts and gives alternative slants on all things, both big and small that are important to disabled people.

The site is designed for everyone and for further information visit the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Ouch! website at bbc.co.uk/ouch.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Ouch! is just one of the many unique and varied offerings from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning. For more information on all other learning programmes offered, please visit bbc.co.uk/learning.

DM