Viewpoint: Living and learning at a disabled-only college

At the National Star college in Gloucestershire, all the students have a disability. What is life like at a disabled-only college?

There are 170 young adults in each year group at the National Star college in Cheltenham. They come from all over the UK to start three years living, learning, and loving on campus.

Many of the students need support with washing, going to the toilet and getting about, and for some, it is their first taste of independence.

As part of BBC Three's Defying the Label season, two former students of National Star recounted their experiences of life at the college.

Sasha Parker

Going to the college was amazing. I have spastic cerebral palsy so have carers who help me, but while there I learnt so much more about being truly independent, in terms of confidence, making friends, and learning to be a young woman.

National Star is near Cheltenham, a town with a really good night life. I don't think people expect disabled people to go out and enjoy themselves, but we did because we're just normal young people.

I have to admit that I was surprised at the difference and variety of the students I found there.

The college takes all kinds of people and disabilities and makes something out of everybody. I was in mainstream school for a couple of years when I was 13 but I feel it was a complete waste of time for me because they didn't focus on how I could learn best.

There were down days while I was at National Star, definitely, for me these mostly revolved around rules and regulations - I don't follow them well. I felt I didn't need as much support as the staff thought I did. For instance, I'm also partially sighted and the college rules say I'm not allowed to go out on my own. My mum allows me more freedom when I'm at home so it hit me hard.

I made such good friends there and we're all still in touch. I'm actually moving into a flat with one of my college mates pretty soon. Sorting out a flat has been the hardest thing for me since leaving college. I will have a team of five staff to help me live independently which has been hard to organise.

Morgan Jones

Going to a college of disabled people was life-changing for me.

In secondary school I was very lonely and isolated. I was seen just as a disabled person, and I think most people were scared of getting to know me.

I was left out of a lot of things - for example, all my peers were able to go by coach to the leavers celebration but, as I'm a wheelchair-user, I had to go separately with my support worker.

I need regular physiotherapy during the day but due to lack of teaching space they moved the physio-bed into the disabled toilet. So I had to have my treatment in a toilet.

When I moved to the specialist college the opportunities I was given were so much better.

Everybody was expert in dealing with young adults with disabilities so I instantly felt more accepted and included. My differences were no longer different.

My creative side was stimulated for the first time, and I spent the next three years doing a course in creative art.

It was easier for me to make friends in college too. Nobody looked at each other and focused on their disability, we just saw personalities.

My mum and dad had to fight very hard for funding to go to the college because they knew that was the best for me. I've now finished there but I don't feel scared about what's next. I'm just dreading the battle I may have with my local authority to ensure I get the independent living funding I need so I don't have to live with my mum and dad forever.

My ambition is to have a paid job to allow me to be independent but I don't know yet what discrimination I might face when I apply for jobs.

I've experienced attitudes I didn't like at my old secondary school so I'm prepared and have no fear in challenging any discrimination I may face in the future.

I want people to get to know me. I like a joke, and a drink, and regularly watch Wrexham FC play football. I'm definitely not just my disability.

The second episode of The Unbreakables airs on Thursday, 6 August at 21:00 BST on BBC Three as part of the Defying The Label season about disabled people. Catch up with the first episode on BBC iPlayer.

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