Help Tom Fight for Justice

My name is Thomas Howard. I am a young, disabled man living in the East of England. Since a young age, I always dreamt of becoming a History Teacher. I loved the subject and always wanted to share my knowledge and passion for History.

 

During High School, I realised that I needed an undergraduate degree to become a Qualified Teacher. So, I decided to carry on in education and go onto Sixth Form and then University. I chose to attend a reputable University in the UK. I started my course in 2014 and I had been due to graduate in 2017.

 

However, I never managed to obtain my degree. I strongly believe that I suffered from serious disability discrimination – i.e. not having reasonable adjustments put in place for examinations and also being placed in accommodation next to a major construction site that had an adverse impact on my sensory disorder. Furthermore, one member of staff claimed that I did not act as a 'rational person'. This comment had a negative impact on my mental health. I had been criticised for not being neurotypical. I felt singled out because of my autism. These are just a few examples, but there are many more. 

 

I did attempt to raise these issues, and I followed internal procedures. The University responded by initiating disciplinary proceedings against me in 2018. The University, despite being aware of my autism, sought to punish me and this had a severe impact on my mental health. During the height of this ordeal, I considered taking my own life. I felt like an outcast and felt that nobody understood me at the University.

 

I then sought legal advice and unfortunately the solicitor I instructed missed a crucial deadline. Now, I have to undo the damage of this delay before I can proceed further against the University. It is important for me to pursue this issue and to ensure that others do not face similar discriminatory treatment in the future. However, in order to proceed, I have to file an application to bring my claim back into Court. In the event that my application fails, I have been informed that the other party are going to pursue me to cover their costs - a threat that almost made me drop the entire claim.

 

I don’t come from an affluent background and I don’t have the funds to support me if a cost order is issued against me. So, this brings me to this fundraiser. I am seeking all the help and support I can get for this case, as this is an important case that raises important points such as access to tertiary education for disabled students, especially those that are non-neurotypical. This can also deliver me a sense of closure and help me close a dark chapter of my life and move on and enjoy my future. Every donation is truly appreciated, and I hope that, with your support, this claim will be successful.

I should note that the cost order against me could be significant, and the money raised through this fundraiser is unlikely to cover all costs, but the money raised can make a huge difference. In the event that I am successful, the funds raised are going to be donated to charitable organisations that support those suffering from disability discrimination in the UK.