'You get picked up from home and dropped off at school then
dropped back home again at the end of the day. That is great when
it's raining but for spending time with friends it's not so good.
You sit on the bus watching boys trying to impress and chat up
girls on sunny days.
The friends I made at special schools are from all over the city
and beyond, that makes it hard for you to see them outside of
school.
When I was growing up I thought it would be great to have a
friend living close to me some one that is always there for me at
home and school, but no one lived near me - I don't have a friend
from school that I still see socially now.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed school and am grateful for the
opportunities I had. I took part in disability sport, met some
great and inspiring people and learnt a lot about myself and my
strengths.
But, outside of school I didn't know anyone, I was nervous going
ice skating and to town and I felt isolated. It took me a while to
adjust. In most social situations even I kept my mouth shut! I felt
like I didn't fit anywhere.
For me, I realised that I had to make new friends, start
trying new things and start experiencing life.
That's why this project [Get In] means a lot to me and the work
that grapevine does is something I believe in greatly. I have
experienced first-hand how everyone can thrive and succeed.'
This blog entry was told by Danny Parrott, Grapevine staff
member who was a pupil at Sherbourne school in the 1990s.
Comments
Thanks for this post. I think integrated schooling is best for all pupils and we should aim to achieve this wherever possible. Dont give up on making friends though, the great thing about that is you are never to old to make new friends!
Comment posted by: Jo at CHANGE on
21 February 2012 at 14:43
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