Flying the nest – and taking Dad with you

University of Leicester Sociology student brings her father to university. A 21-year-old sociology student at the University of Leicester has flouted the tradition of viewing higher education as an opportunity to escape her parents, live away from home and experience freedom and independence – by bringing her father along with her.

Anuya Pai and her father have lived in adjoining rooms in University Halls of Residence for the past three years. Anuya’s father, Dr Anand Pai, has suspended his medical career to accompany his daughter, who is a wheelchair user, to the University as her full-time support.  Anuya’s parents originate from Mangalore in South India, but Anuya has lived in England all her life.

Dr Pai commented: “I am happy to be here with Anuya as she pursues her education. I know how important this is to her and I have always been willing to provide whatever support is necessary in order for my daughter to achieve her ambitions in life.”

Whilst Anuya is in her lectures, Dr Pai runs errands for her, such as fetching her library books for assignments.

Anuya said: “It was quite an unusual request – wanting to bring my Dad with me – but they didn’t seem to see any problem with it. The accommodation has an adjoining room so if I need my Dad for anything in the middle of the night, I can call him easily. This wasn’t available in other universities where carers are off-campus in other accommodation. But the University of Leicester has accommodated for him well, as well as for me.

“One of the major things which attracted me to the University of Leicester was the wheelchair friendly accommodation as it’s hard to find wheelchair accessible housing off campus.”

The high calibre of support available to disabled students at the University was illustrated recently with recognition from the Times Higher Education who awarded the AccessAbility Centre and Student Development the Outstanding Student Support award at their annual ceremony for their project ‘Access to Employability’ which looked at supporting students with skills and work placements. It was the AccessAbility Centre who made arrangements to accommodate Anuya’s unusual living situation.

Dr Paula Dobrowolski, Head of the AccessAbility Centre, commented:

“It has been delightful to work with Anuya and her father. Anuya’s support requirements have been fairly standard and, once everything was set up, Anuya has led an independent life at University. The aim of the AccessAbility Centre is to support students to fulfil their potential and find their independence. I wish here every success for her studies.”

Anuya has benefited from the high level of support from the University during her time here, commenting:
“If you need anything, the University is willing to change things. If a room is inaccessible to me, they’ll change the venue of the classes – or if the lift is broken, they’ll move the class to wherever I can get to. I think that’s really important as it means that I don’t feel isolated, as there is such a good support network.”

As a part of her course, Anuya got the chance to experience studying abroad during her second year, where she completed a semester at the University of Georgia and following her graduation this summer, she hopes to live stateside once more. Anuya is applying to several universities in America to study for a Masters in Screenwriting and aspires to follow a career in writing in the future, hoping to change preconceptions of disabilities and Dr Pai will support her every step of way in this endeavour.

Professor Misztal from the Department of Sociology commented:
“Anuya and her father have been a very lively part of our Department for the last three years. Anuya is an outstanding student and her undergraduate work has been very consistent and very good quality. Both the students and staff have always been willing to help Anuya and her father as we all admire her attitude to work and ability to cope with the demands of being a student.

“I have found that she has consistently shown enthusiasm for learning and willingness to participate in class discussion. I admire not only her motivation, perseverance in achieving objectives and her dedication to her duties but also by her social skills and her humour.”

For more information, please contact Anuya Pai via Uni of Leicester press office on 0116 252 2415 or via email at ap281@le.ac.uk

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