My name’s Wil (they/he) and I’m a disabled Queer student at the University of Oregon. I’m originally from Utah and decided to move to Oregon because I loved the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I’m a second year majoring in medieval studies and minoring in creative writing.
Image I always knew that studying abroad was something I wanted to do and UO had a wide range of programs that interested me. When I was accepted into my program in Siena, Italy, I wanted to make sure I’d have the resources and support that I’d need while away from home. I was able to work with my onsite program supervisor to ensure that accessibility accommodations were in place and that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything once I arrived. The program staff have been wonderful in helping me with everything that I’ve needed or any questions I’ve had regarding accessibility in Italy.
Before coming to Italy, I knew it wasn’t a very physically accessible place and that’s something that I worried about. Because I live in Siena, which is an older city, most of the streets are cobblestone and very uneven which can be hard to walk on sometimes. Also, buildings tend to lack elevators and have numerous stairs. These things can be hard for someone like me who gets winded easily walking up inclines and has trouble walking on non-flat surfaces. However, I was able to request my housing be somewhere on a lower floor and got a residence on the second floor of a building with a relatively flat walk to classes. The fact that my accommodation request was met to the best of their ability was wonderful and I know that even if I’m having a physically bad day I’ll still be able to make it to classes and home perfectly fine.
Something that I have struggled with when it comes to my mental health in Siena is finding the right balance between social time with other students and taking time for myself to relax or study. Most students tend to go out often, but as someone who gets overstimulated easily, it can be difficult to go out multiple nights in a row. The first few weeks were really hard as I didn’t want to miss getting to know people, but now that things have started to settle into a routine, I’ve been able to feel more comfortable turning down invitations to go out. Instead, I’ll stay in and have a night to myself whether that’s cooking dinner with my roommates, catching up on homework, or watching a show. Taking care of my body and mental health while abroad can be challenging, but it’s very rewarding to be able to have the energy to enjoy the time I have in Italy.
By Wil Tayco, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Food, Culture, and Sustainability in Italy, Winter 2023