What difficulties did I have during school?

Talking – Classroom discussions were difficult, sometimes it was difficult to speak up because of my voice is quieter than others. I missed a lot of school cause of illness, so when I was back at school I would have to catch up on a lot, which was stressful. I wasn’t able to join in with all of the lessons like P.E. This was because I would get too tired and because of my brittle bone disease I would have to be careful of sports. Another thing that made my time at school very difficult was the fact I was bullied.

Which schools did I go to?

Primary and Junior school I went to Lawns in Swindon, the teachers were really nice and understanding but the other kids there weren’t. The secondary school I went to was Commonweal school, it was an amazing school because they had really good facilities to accommodate different disabilities.

How Hard was it to get into schools because of my Disabilities?

It was very difficult to get into certain schools because of my disabilities. I had a meeting at Dorcan secondary school where they told me they couldn’t accept me because they didn’t have the resources to help me.

How did my Disabilities effect my school time?

My disabilities created a difficult situation at school sometimes and also meant I missed out on a lot. When I was in Junior school I got meningitis therefore I missed a lot of school. Because I was off school for so long when I returned the whole school welcomed me back with cheers and happiness which was really nice to return to. When I was in secondary school I missed a lot of lessons and therefore I wasn’t prepared for my GCSEs. Because I was spending a lot of time in hospital I remember having to complete coursework there. Looking back on my time at school now, the school system with exams and set timetables doesn’t really give people with disabilities a fair opportunity to complete their qualifications.

How much care did I need in School?

During all my time at school from playschool to secondary I would have a carer with me through out the day just in case I fell ill. They would help me with my day to day stuff such as my food, Suction and physio. Liz my carer was a really lovely lady and I’m grateful that she looked out for me through my school years.

Was I ever Bullied in School?

Yes – I had a difficult time in primary and juniors with bullying. They would tease me about my voice and this really knocked my confidence. It created a difficult environment and made me not want to go to school. Even know there were some nasty people at school there were also some really nice people who I am still friends with now.