Case studies

The case studies are a collection of interviews with disabled archaeology students and professional archaeologists. These outline the varied experiences of a number of very different individuals in both studying and working in archaeology. It is a credit to all the interviewees that they were totally open about their conditions and experiences, both positive or negative.

1. Jane

Jane is a 2nd year undergraduate with dyslexia. She 'bluffed' her way through school, but enjoys University and fieldwork. With preparation she can cope and has very few problems. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 50kb pdf | 16kb Word doc

2. Paul

Paul is a mature student studying Archaeology. He has a hearing impairment, but with the help of his hearing aid and his own 'life skills' he has had very few problems participating in archaeological fieldwork. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 65kb pdf | 22kb Word doc

3. Simon

Simon suffered extensive physical injuries after a motorcycle accident. This has left him with upper limbs disability and mental health difficulties. He is also dyslexic. He describes the problems that he has had doing archaeological fieldwork and explains how it has given a purpose to his life. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 77kb pdf | 35kb Word doc

4. Vicky

Vicky is a graduate student with a severe visual impairment and Ataxia. She explains how participating in archaeological fieldwork training has increased her own self-confidence to the point that she is now undertaking postgraduate study. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 68kb pdf | 26kb Word doc

5. Annette

Annette recently completed her undergraduate degree in Archaeology. She has dyslexia and has had very few problems participating in archaeological fieldwork. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 58kb pdf | 17kb Word doc

6. Angie

Angie is a mature student who acted as a 'buddy' to an undergraduate with a visual impairment. In this case study, she describes her experiences of working alongside a disabled student. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 65kb pdf | 25kb Word doc

7. Mary

Mary is a self-employed archaeologist who has an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Repetitive Strain Injury and has suffered intermittently from an eating disorder. She relates the problems and successes that she has experienced in her career. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 65kb pdf | 19kb Word doc

8. Sarah

Sarah is a professional archaeologist working for a public body. She has a rare condition called an 'internally rotated femur' and dyspraxia. She describes how she coped as a student on training excavations and the direction her career has taken. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 48kb pdf | 16kb Word doc

9. Sandra

Sandra is a site supervisor working for an archaeological unit. She has Diabetes and Repetitive Strain Injury and talks about her experiences both as a student, and professionally. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 53kb pdf | 19kb Word doc

10. Katy

Katy is dyslexic and works as a Project Officer for an archaeological unit. She describes the coping mechanisms that she has adopted as a student and as a professional archaeologist. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 46kb pdf | 15kb Word doc

11. Neville

Neville was seriously injured in an accident when he was 19 and is still having operations many years later. He explains how he has managed to participate in regular archaeological fieldwork and about his own particular ways of coping with both life and fieldwork. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 74kb pdf | 34kb Word doc

12. Darren

Darren is currently studying for a PhD in archaeology, but has many years experience of fieldwork. He is dyslexic and believes this has been a benefit for him in archaeological excavation. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 63kb pdf | 24kb Word doc

13. Nigel

Darren is dyslexic and feels how that this has not been a great barrier to him doing fieldwork. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 74kb pdf | 34kb Word doc

14. Pauline

Pauline is employed in museums work and is also a part-time PhD student studying archaeology. She has impaired vision, as a result of diabetes, and is dyslexic. She describes how she has coped in doing her PhD research and in pursuing a professional career. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 51kb pdf | 20kb Word doc

15. Harry

Harry has experienced depression and anxiety since suffering a breakdown five years ago. He talks about his experiences as an archaeology student and the help and support he has received. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 61kb pdf | 20kb Word doc

16. Mark

Mark has dyslexia and Irea's Syndrome. His first experiences of Higher Education were not very positive. He has since moved to another institution and explains how he is now coping with the demands of his course. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 65kb pdf | 21kb Word doc

17. Adrian

Adrian has mild dyslexia. He describes his experiences as an archaeology student and how he would prefer not to have special provision made for himself, but does want to see a level playing field when it comes to archaeological training. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 55kb pdf | 17kb Word doc

18. Alan

Alan is a senior archaeologist with a government agency who was seriously injured in a car crash in the middle of his career. He describes how his job has changed, as well as his relationships with colleagues and his employer. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 78kb pdf | 38kb Word doc

19. Anita

Anita has Multiple Sclerosis. She relates how she has been able to participate in archaeological fieldwork and her experiences as an archaeology student. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 67kb pdf | 25kb Word doc

20. Jackie

Jackie is a mature student with dyslexia. She has experienced very few problems with archaeological fieldwork, her difficulties have been more related to on-campus work. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 59kb pdf | 19kb Word doc

21. Robert

Robert has a rare condition, Okihiro Syndrome, which has only recently become recognised, and his symptoms include partial deafness and upper arm disability. Although he feels his condition has never had a strong effect on his career in archaeology, he has become very conscious of how people perceive disability in the professional world. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 40kb Word doc

22. Rebecca

Rebecca suffered a back injury and studied for an undergraduate degree in archaeology during the five years she had to wait for an operation that would fuse three of her vertebrae together. Although she can work in digs, she has found it very hard to get jobs because of her disability. Continue reading.
Download this case study: 32kb Word doc