Education and School

Primary 

When starting primary school due to the fact that my diagnosis was not until I was 8 year's old, I would say i had a normal primary school experience. My mitochondrial disease did not affect me too much during this time, although I did start  to notice and feel tired more than usual.  I started noticing that I couldn't keep up in different sport activities or with my peers and had noticed that one of my eyes starting to droop ( ptosis )which was the start of my journey into figuring out what to do next. 

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Secondary

At the beginning of secondary school, I was fortunate enough to have a EHCP (Educational Health Care Plan) this was put in place and I was allocated a teaching assistant, who was assigned to be with me at all times. They helped me with carrying my bags, escorting me to and from my lessons, and sat with me in lessons as I struggled seeing things such as the PowerPoint and the whiteboard, so I had help with what was being taught on a regular basis.  They also helped me when I did my mocks and GCSEs as I struggled reading the smaller fonts and images (especially graphs).

My TA ( teaching assistant) would also help me as they escorted me to and from my taxi which I took everyday to get to school, and made sure that I safely arrived at my lessons.

Whenever we would have PE I would go to a separate room and do physiotherapy which I was allocated by my physiotherapist to help maintain my muscles strength and fitness.  I would do this instead as i struggled keeping up with others when they did sports and exercise.

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Even though I was very thankful to have a teaching assistant, I did find that some days it was very overbearing and suffocating and I did struggled to make friends.  Since I started in year 7 to year 11 throughout my time there, I would usually  stay in SS2 (which is where I would go during break and lunch), as I found whenever I went to the yard, my TA would have to follow me there and stay with me to make sure nothing happens to me. I did find it very awkward and annoying at times as all i wanted is to make friend's, but it was difficult when i had someone watching over me. ​

 

College 

​When I finally started college, I was still assigned an LSA (learning support assistant) during my time with at college who helped me with my bags and escorted me to and from my lessons. As I was classed as an adult during time, I had more freedom with the option of more help if I needed it. This made me feel like i had more independence and freedom, but still had the help and support if needed.  

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I would say therefore that an EHCP is extremely important to try and push for as it helped me throughout my education and was invaluable in allowing me to still carry on with my studies. 

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