I had to re-evaluate my life after an accident at work left me paraplegic
Leading Labour Party figure Michael Young had the vision for the Open University, one embraced by Prime Minister Harold Wilson. He saw it as a major plank in Labour’s commitment to modernise British society by making higher education something for the masses, not merely the elite, and helping Sheila Cameron turned to the OU after her life changed forever when she was left paraplegic.
“I actually studied with the OU away back in 1990,” said mum-of-one Sheila, from Motherwell. “I had a family and then I had an accident at work in 2009. That put me in a wheelchair and I had to re-evaluate what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to study to give my brain something to focus on and I registered when I was still in the hospital.
“I wanted to do something completely different.”
Sheila gained as BSC in environmental studies and is now a postgraduate doing an MA in online and distance education.
She is now chair of the OU’S disabled students’ group and can point to her experience when mentoring others.
“Apart from letting you gain a qualification and get a job, I think studying with the OU is really beneficial to your mental health,” added Sheila. build a more competitive economy.
Planning started in 1965 and it launched four years later, using the former BBC studios at Alexandra Palace in London. By the time it did take to the air, the supposedly modest costs had rocketed but it was deemed to be too late to scrap it.