I am who I am - A journey of self-identity across cultures

“I’m just a Chinese girl, not Superman!”. These were the words of a Chinese assistive technology user who has cerebral palsy whilst successfully completing a postgraduate degree in Britain last year. We presented the communication- and education-related experiences of this student in a previous presentation. This student’s decision to study a fulltime postgraduate course that was taught in a new country and in a second language also highlights the role of self-identity in making life choices and realising future plans. Knowing and being comfortable with who we are as individuals is one of the foundations for being able to be the best that we can be as individuals and within our broader communities, and contributes to quality of life, sensemaking and decision-making. Developing self-identity is a dynamic and lifelong process. It is a journey where internal resources such as personality, expectations and capacity for resilience interact with external influences such as environmental support, cultural norms and societal rules. We present a first-hand account of the process, challenges and outcomes of the journey of re-defining self-identity as an adult with cerebral palsy with experience of living in different countries. We cover topics including the influence of different cultures on translating self-identity into practice; adjusting expectations when moving between different societies and cultures, and working towards self-advocacy and career progression in more restrictive environments. Finally, we present key learnings about prioritising self-identity and using it as a tool to achieve career and life goals.