A REMARKABLE student at the University of Bolton is celebrating achieving his goal — a First Class degree in creative writing — against all the odds.
Aidan Matear, aged 22, has choreoathetoid cerebral palsy and his achievement is all the more impressive as he is confined to a wheelchair and has extremely limited movement in his upper limbs.
He also had to take a year out of his course as he underwent major surgery.
But on Tuesday, he went on stage at Bolton’s Albert Halls during the university degree ceremony to collect his BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree.
And he said: “Going to university is the best thing I have ever done.”
Aidan, who lives in Bolton, uses advanced computer software that enables him to write just by scanning his eyes over the screen.
He has his own online blog – ‘An Aid For All’ – in which he writes about his experiences.
The former Turton School student, who is a passionate advocate of disability awareness, said: “The course was challenging, exciting, hard work and extremely rewarding.”
He said that he had been supported by a team of “very enthusiastic and supportive staff”.
“I learned how to create original work, presented to a professional standard and had opportunities to perform my work and get it published,” he added.
After graduation Aidan says he wants to focus on continuing his creative writing and developing his advocacy work for people with disabilities.
He said: “I am a passionate ambassador for disability awareness and hope to continue my work with a number of local organisations on disability awareness projects.
“The university was very supportive and understanding when I had to take a year out for extensive surgery.
“They made it easy for me to simply suspend study until I was well enough to return. I got a lot of support.”
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