“My name is Lucy Beall, I am twenty-one and am currently a student at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland, but am originally from Texas. I am doing a joint degree in History of Art and Classics, specialising in Early Medieval art and Roman British Archeology. Before St. Andrews, I had the pleasure of studying in London with Sotheby’s institute of Art and Birkbeck College. I missed so much school as a child due to my condition, but those days staying home from school were the most valuable of my life. I owe all that I am now to them. Although I could not control what happened to my body, what it became or what it did, my condition could not touch my ability to learn. As a child I decided to let that take me as far as I could. I am an academic at heart, and hope to one day continue my work in auction houses in London, or work in museums. I take pride in my work, and enjoy talking about it in order to challenge the stigma that those with disabilities are unable to have careers or an education.”