GCSEs

[Aimeewaimee]

Well, I started my GCSE exams this year.
My HEDS makes it difficult to write for long periods of time, which means that I can't really write a lot in my exams.

I had my Science exam earlier this year, but that was okay because the only writing I had to do involved colouring in circles.

But I have my RE mock exams next week, and then I have my actual RE exam a few weeks after that.
The bad news is I have to write TEN PAGES. In TWO HOURS!

Which is a complete nightmare for me. :(
I've been to the hospital and they said they don't know what's wrong with my hand, but I keep getting aches running up it from my wrist to my little finger.

Erghh, I just needed to rant about that.

[Katherine]

Can you not get a scribe? or have extra time? i had extra time for my geog DME exam when i did my gcses

[xxBrittany]

I am sorry but what is GCSES?
I am in college and feel like a total idiot for answering that question and not all of us here may know what you mean, so could you describe a little bit what you've been doing?

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

Brit it's kind of like our SATs...it's the end of school exams for British students in order to leave school and go to university

[Katherine]

We do GCSEs when we're 15/16 in about 10 subjects normally and can then go on to do A-Levels until we're 18 where we can then go to University

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

All I know is they're grueling and painful and we American students should be very happy we don't take them :D

[xxBrittany]

Wow. That sounds CRAZY!
Thanks for explaining to me what in the world they are, even though I now feel like an idiot.

[Katherine]

You're welcome! btw the way youre not an idiot! :)

[Timeless]

I am tho :p truth be told l was expelled before l was able to take my GCSEs, in all honesty l was kicked out due to reputation rather than actually doing what l was accused of T_T but thats another story.

however one thing l thought was valid to this topic, due to your condition if you can acquire a doctors note lm sure they will allow you to take your exam verbally, granted you are not dyslexic like my sister (she took hers verbally as she has major spelling problems, which is amusing when you consider when she puts pen to paper it looks neat but unreadable, far cry from my scribbles that only l can read lol), lm sure tho if you talk to your teachers and get a doctors note and explain your worries something could be arranged, it has proved effective for allot of ppl l know.

good luck on your exams by the way, hopefully you ace them and make more of yourself than l ever could (because l have 0 qualifications, and sadly paper not experience is valued in this world)

[xxBrittany]

Wow, sounds like you had a lot going on at the time.. Timeless.

Hope Timeless's advice helps!

[Timeless]

um, it was more a reputation that followed me and no school would have me sadly.. partly my fault tho but generally l blame it on the system

[Aimeewaimee]

Thank you all so much for your advice.

I actually got a letter written from the doctor's and now I'm allowed to use my laptop during the exams.



Now I have yet another problem.

My school has organised a trip to Thorpe Park as a reward for getting good reports etc.
They've also said that anyone with poor attendance can't go.
The day they said who couldn't go was today, when I was ill due to my HEDS keeping me up all night.

I've been told I'm not allowed to go because of the amount of time I've had off school. However, some people in my class have a lower attendance than me and have been allowed to go on account of the fact that they have a condition which means they are allowed time off.

I also have a condition and yet for some reason am not allowed to go.
I honestly don't understand this.
My aunt is a lawyer and says this is discrimination, as the school have decided that my condition isn't 'important enough'

I don't know what to do :(
I really want to go, please help.

[Timeless]

sadly there isnt enough known about the condition in fact before helping out here l never knew what eds was (l still dont exactly) its prolly not recognized as much as the ones who have been given the benefit of the doubt.

so the best suggestion l can suggest would be to get advice information pack (of some sort) from your doctor with regards to information on your medical issues which can be taken to your school when you file a complaint of discrimination to your school because lets face it eds isnt the nicest thing to have and can leave you pretty much bedridden on days which isnt your fault so why should you not be allowed to have fun on the few good days you might have which are relitively painless?

l guess my point is here, your school most likely lacks the knowledge of your problem so it would be worthwhile proving to them that you have a valid reason by educating them on the subject.

[Katherine]

if you go on this site they do leaflets and stuff that are designed to be given to schools and teachers about EDS http://www.ehlers-danlos.org/

are you still not aloud to go?

[Chiara]

i think that this is discrimination, maybe you could ask your doctor to write a letter to the teachers to let them understand your condition...

P.S. school is finished!!! yuppiiiii :):):) so glad of my results :) sorry, just had to.

[xxBrittany]

I totally agree with Katherine, please print some things out and give to all of your teachers, etc. That is DEFINITLY dicrimination and should not be tolerated. However, the school system seems it has gone horribly down hill the past couple years and of course all of us get the short end of the stick for it.

If you would like, I would also be up to writing a letter to any teachers you have problems with now, or in the future to explain its difficult living with EDS and would love to help you any way I can. So let me know what I can do!

Perhaps have your aunt call in there and threaten em' a little bit. ;) Scare the heeby jeebys out of em'!

Haha, hope everything works/worked out well for you!

[SophieeBabessxo]

Apparently, if your illness is stopping you, you can get a scribe for your GCSEs :hmmm

[xxBrittany]

That's cool. I think....

[SophieeBabessxo]

I Hope This Is Not Too Late.
If you get a letter from your doctors/physio explaining your condition and ask for extra time, they normally let you.
I have been granted with 20% extra time and a break if i need it.
I really hope this has helped x

[xxBrittany]

I think it helps! :) Thanks for posting all of this information!

[Michelle]

Hey,
Can I just ask a question?
What are all of you guys doing in college as a course!?
My hypermobility stops me from doing a lot so I don't know what to do with my life!
x

[xxBrittany]

Oh. College is sooo tough for me. However, this next semester I am doing all online courses in business!

Ethics of Business.
Business Law.
Introucing Business Management
and I can't think of the other at the moment!

[SophieeBabessxo]

That's cool Brittany! :)
I'm soon going to be finishing my GCSE's and I hope to get into Sixth Form. :)

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

I'm finishing up my degree...I am doing an internship too which I know will wipe me out!

[SophieeBabessxo]

What degree have you been working towards? :)

[xxBrittany]

Other than studying for photography, I have now decided to go to the University of Maryland for an Agriscience major. Which basically is a lot to do with farming, and agricultural studies! So I am pretty stoked about it, however, this past semester I took all online classes and none of my teachers wanted to work with my disability, and it sucked. I sure am glad all that is done & over with!

[SophieeBabessxo]

Awesome! I'm going to be doing Health and Social Care, Biology, Psychology and one other but not sure yet :)

[xxBrittany]

Sophie, I am sure you will figure things out and pick what is best for you!

[SophieeBabessxo]

I'm letting my results tell me what to take :)

[xxBrittany]

Well, since you have good results, what are you taking :wink:

[SophieeBabessxo]

Still deciding :L:L