Personal agony spurs mum on to Open University degree
DEVOTED mother Dorothy Nelson has told of the personal agony that drove her to graduate as a mature student against all odds.
She enrolled in a psychology degree after becoming frustrated with doctors who took years to diagnose her son’s behavioural problems.
Eighteen months before she started the course her marriage crumbled and she was out of work, homeless with two children.
Her son’s behavioural problems spiralled out of control as she struggled to pull her shattered life back together.
But she became so frustrated with medics who could not solve his problems, she decided to hit the books herself.
Dorothy said: “I started studying with the Open University (OU) in 2002. During this time it had become evident that the problems my son was having at school were not just related to the family breakdown – they were pre-existing and not improving.
“I grew frustrated by the responses I received when asking for help and decided to take matters into my own hands.
“Within three years of studying with the OU I was more aware that his problems were developmental and not emotional. Eventually, three months before his 17th birthday, he was diagnosed with Aspergers and Attention Deficit Disorder without hyperactivity.
“This degree has helped me cope with my son’s condition and helped my children through a very painful time in their lives without becoming emotionally damaged.
“It has also enabled me to have a very close relationship with both my children full of trust, understanding and acceptance of our individual differences.”
Dorothy was one of almost 2,000 students who graduated from the Open University on Saturday.
She was awarded the Sir John Daniel Prize given to mark “dedication in completing a degree under extremely difficult personal circumstances”.
A total of 1,781 students across Ireland received awards from the OU this year, ranging from certificates and diplomas to full degrees and postgraduate qualifications.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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