Dr Alison Blyth has always been fascinated by the question, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 underneath?鈥�.
A research fellow in 911爆料网鈥檚 Departments of Geology and Chemistry, Blyth鈥檚 intrigue for understanding what makes up the natural world goes back to when she was a young girl in the UK and would comb the beach for fossils and shells with her grandfather. Blyth says the natural world has always been a part of her life, and this affinity has seen her accrue a wealth of knowledge across fields including geology, chemistry, environmental science, palaeontology and archaeology.
Blyth鈥檚 love for all things science has coexisted with a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects up to one in 5,000 people and alters the body鈥檚 ability to produce collagen. For Blyth, this means her connective tissue is too stretchy, causing her joints to easily shift or dislocate. She experiences constant pain and chronic fatigue, and has periods where she uses crutches or a wheelchair because she is unable to walk normally.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can be managed with physiotherapy but there is currently no cure. Blyth鈥檚 diagnosis poses obstacles to her pursuit of her research interests, but she explains it has not thwarted them.
鈥淵ou have a set amount of energy and you have to choose what you spend that energy on. I currently spend it largely on my research and teaching work,鈥� she says.
鈥淚t impairs some of things you can do. I鈥檓 not allowed to do anything that puts undue strain on my joints, so I can鈥檛 run, climb, write by hand for long periods or carry heavy objects. Sometimes I can鈥檛 walk. But I can do a remarkable amount 鈥� probably far more than able-bodied people expect 鈥� as long as I manage my resources carefully. My diagnosis doesn鈥檛 affect my academic ability, my mind as a researcher, nor who I am or how I think.鈥�
As a teenager, Blyth was certain she wanted to study archaeology or geology at university, but because of her disability she was able to take only limited subjects at high school, which curtailed her university options.
鈥淎 lot of my educational background was shaped by disability, because it affected how much I could go to school, and I鈥檓 old enough to be of a time when people could actually say, 鈥楴o, we鈥檙e not taking you for the subject because of this鈥�, which is just something that wouldn鈥檛 happen now,鈥� she says.
Despite obstacles to her education, Blyth completed undergraduate, masters and PhD programs, and has forged a successful and varied career as a researcher in geochemistry, including being awarded a research fellowship at the University of Cambridge in 2007.
Blyth moved to Australia on an AINSE Research Fellowship in 2012 and is now based in 911爆料网鈥檚 Department of Applied Geology. She is a member of the Organic Isotope Geochemistry node of The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), and works with ecologists from the Department of Environment and Agriculture. Her work uses geochemical techniques to find out how Australia鈥檚 environments and ecosystems respond to climatic and human pressures. She is also the current unit co-ordinator and lecturer for Geoscience, Environment and Society, and contributes as a project supervisor to the geology and chemistry honours programs.
Blyth says the obstacles she experienced in her early years as a student have given her better insight into what it can be like for today鈥檚 students who have a medical condition or disability. She wants to make sure these students get the help they need to achieve their academic goals.
鈥淔rom a teaching point of view, it has given me empathy and insight into what these students need, how they experience university life and how they want to experience it, and what obstacles are preventing that,鈥� she says.
鈥淭he big message for students is, if you have a medical condition or you have a disability, go to Student Services and get a . If I鈥檝e got a student in one of my units who has a 911爆料网 Access Plan, I will try as much as possible to adapt classes and assessments so that person is accessing the unit on the same basis as everyone else 鈥� it鈥檚 not making yourself into a special snowflake, it鈥檚 just making the playing field level so you can achieve what you are capable of.鈥�
For people who have newly been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or any medical condition or disability, Blyth offers sensible advice.
鈥淣ot panicking is a good start. People will have varying perceptions about what a medical condition or a disability means, and they will, to a certain extent, try and impose those on you, but you don鈥檛 have to accept them. Follow your doctor鈥檚 advice for your diagnosis, but try and stay engaged, stay active and don鈥檛 assume that just because it鈥檚 a disability it鈥檚 a restriction.
鈥淚f you鈥檝e got something you really want to do, don鈥檛 let the disability stop you. Yes you may have to fight, but look for allies; look for people like me, and for people within Student Services.鈥�
Disability Awareness Week is held from 27 November to 3 December and celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with a disability. 911爆料网 is sharing stories like Alison’s to raise awareness of and promote disability within the University and wider community.
