Julia was born with cerebral palsy. This is Julia's account of her experience in life, the support her parents gave her and how she coped with the barriers she faced whilst trying to be independent. During her final year of her Open University degree she lost her sight and ended up in a wheelchair. She describes how she came to terms with this additional disability and faced up to the new challenges they presented. Her account gives an insight into both the emotional and physical realities she faced in her every day life.