Page 63 - SEN114 September/October 2021

Schools and colleges
About the author
Francesca Dean is 26 and lives in Rossendale with her family. She has Cerebral Palsy and can’t walk or stand but uses an electric wheelchair to help her get around. Following school she went onto several college courses including Business and Travel and Tourism. She is currently employed at Blackburn Youth Zone as a marketing assistant.
francescadean@hotmail.com
“A smooth transition into mainstream or specialist school is vital”
When you’re given that life-changing prognosis from birth that your child has a condition that will never go away.
Automatically, as a parent all you want is your child to be happy, healthy and to be equipped with the tools needed, in order for them to become the next generations of our tomorrow.
In addition, when a successful decision is made, the positive effects of this on the child or young person are outstanding.
The young person can then, along with their support system, start to create a sense of belonging, increase self-esteem and reduce the risk of peer pressure in the future or unwanted stigma surrounding their disability.
I was extremely fortunate to only spend a short amount of time in a specialist school and began to make my first steps into full-time education because I’d coped so well with spending time in both a specialist and mainstream nursery. This was only possible thanks to the people who knew me inside and out – including my family.
The amount of structure, care and utmost precision that went into really getting to know me and my family before and after I left both nurseries and the specialist school were second to none, which is why I believe making these key introductions early to ensure a smooth transition into mainstream or specialist school is vital.
From the very first few days of entering mainstream school, this is where my overall development really began to flourish.
My favourite subjects in primary school were English and Art because from a very young age, I already knew how to properly express myself, be creative and make a stand on popular topics that resonated with me especially growing up in the society we live in today.
I‘ve never been afraid of standing my ground and using my voice to get clear and concise points across, as well as this, proudly advocating for those who don’t feel like they belong or have a voice purely due to the stigma or lack of knowledge that still encapsulates disability, we’re now in 2021, and this isn’t acceptable.
My love of English carried on during my time at high school.
Drama was also another favourite subject of mine, because these are lessons in the school curriculum where you can continue to be yourself, shine, but most importantly the power
■ Lucy Meacock, Tony Morris and Me.
of language, creativity, and use of words can help you to evolve everlasting legacies and positive change to inspire future generations without realising it.
All the way through primary and secondary school the rare ability to do this was acknowledged by my teachers due to the pride and efficiency I took in all aspects of my schoolwork.
I also was a very popular and well-liked student who established excellent rapport with staff and students.
It didn’t matter to them if I used a wheelchair or not, I was just the bubbly and happy Francesca everyone still knows today and that’s why I think staff and students looked up to me as a key role model within the secondary school community.
When I was in my last few years at high school I became a prefect. This was a role I was extremely proud of because it prepared me for life away from school. Since leaving school 10 years ago now, I’ve learnt about the art of resilience and the importance of having a thick skin whilst smiling and loving life at the same time.
Disability is a journey, not our destination.
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