Student with rare disorder graduates after nine years
Theo Hanson has triumphed over adversity to finally achieve his Anglia Ruskin degree
Theo Hanson on the day of his ARU graduation ceremony
Theo Hanson, an Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) student who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, is celebrating his graduation after first beginning his degree in 2016.
Theo, 28, has lived with hereditary sensory neuropathy (HSN) all his life, leaving him unable to feel pain or touch. This lack of feeling in his body puts him at risk of accidental injury or infections.
Despite the risks associated with his condition, his parents encouraged him to try and live independently, and he joined ARU in 2016 through Clearing.
Theo, who lives in Cambridge, initially found that living away from home threw up challenges he had not anticipated. In 2018, his tutors encouraged him to take a year out and he flourished on rejoining ARU.
He became a course representative and even took on a “parental” role to students during the Covid pandemic, helping students who were struggling with the restrictions.
There were further personal and health challenges to overcome. The death of someone who helped look after him when he was young impacted Theo’s studies, and he needed to have his toes amputated due to a severe bone infection.
However, Theo has now finally crossed the stage to formally receive his BA (Hons) degree in Computer Games Design – and he did so on the very same day his younger brother graduated from his degree in History at ARU.
“Most people with HSN don’t even get to enter higher education, let alone to complete it. The main reason for that is that, by my age, they are usually too injured or impaired. Luckily, my version of the condition has manifested itself in a way that my brain function and level of injury is not as impaired or as severe as some others that have the condition.
“There are two ways of dealing with someone like me, you either coddle them completely or, as my parents did, treat me like the rest of my brothers and I was encouraged to live independently. University seemed a natural step.
“Finally finishing my degree feels incredible – I didn’t think I would ever get here. I have seen friends go on to become lecturers and I have had other friends come back to do a Masters.
“Socially I have learned a lot. I lived in student accommodation and so I met new people every year, and the course was amazing. The lecturers were really helpful and always on hand to provide advice, and all the support staff too who helped me with submissions were lovely.”
ARU Computer Games Design graduate Theo HansonTheo has already had some of his work highlighted in PC Gamer magazine and following graduation, he’s keen to pursue work to improve accessibility in gaming.