Preferred Name: MJ Jolley

Pronouns: they/she

Program/Major: Biochemistry (major), Disability Studies (minor)

“I was led to this program when I transferred as a sophomore from USU studying biochemistry with a minor in ASL. There wasn’t a minor in ASL here, but at my new student orientation, I learned about the disability studies minor. I wasn’t quite sure what it entailed and had never considered disability studies. After my “Intro to Disability Studies” class with Dr. Lezlie Frye, I completely changed from wanting to only learn ASL to wanting to learn everything I could about disability studies, disability justice, and all else related to it. I had been ignorant to how ableism, and other oppressive forces, affect everyone’s everyday lives, and how my own internalized ableism had affected how I viewed myself and my disability. That is why I chose to continue in this program, to learn more about disability, how it intersects with other forms of oppression, and to learn a more informed and radical way to interact with the world around me.

“I am still majoring in biochemistry and hoping to continue on to med school and be a physician. The knowledge I have gained in my disability studies courses has completely changed my perspective as a disabled person and as someone who will someday treat countless people with varying disabilities. The medical system currently does not always function the best for people who are disabled, especially if they are living with intersecting forms of oppression such as ableism, racism, and homophobia. The readings I have done and the discussions I have had in my classes for disability studies have fundamentally changed the way I interact with the world and how I want to practice as a physician. I am now much better prepared to understand and provide my patients with the best medical care possible within the confines of the medical-industrial complex. The knowledge I have gained in disability studies has allowed me to learn how to practice disability justice in my everyday life, and in my future career as a physician.”