Student Profile: Ruth Madeley

English and Creative Writing

Ruth Madeley has never let her disability get in the way of her life. Born with spina bifida, Ruth was determined to succeed and became the first in her family to go to university. Now with a first class honours degree in English and Creative Writing to her name, she plans to embark on a career in broadcast journalism.

While her fellow undergraduates were spending their first few weeks at Edge Hill finding their feet, Ruth Madeley was flat on her back, recovering from a major operation to replace two infected metal rods that hold her spine together.

Ruth lived on campus in a room adapted for wheelchair users and, once recovered, threw herself into academic life, taking advantage of Edge Hill's additional support for disabled students. "Studying English, I needed so many books," she says. "My Facilitator went to the library for me and also took notes in lectures if I couldn't go."

She joined Edge Hill's mentoring scheme for disadvantaged students, Outlook, and undertook several work placements at ITV in Manchester, shadowing a broadcast journalist and learning how to put together a daily news programme.

"People often look at people in wheelchairs and automatically think they're stupid," says Ruth. "Getting a first class degree is a fantastic achievement for me, and for my parents, who have been so supportive."