ASSESSMENTS, EXAMS AND STRESS !

May is the season of those all dreaded exams !......well it is for me.

Coming to the end of my second year of a four year extended degree course in Psychology. The time has gone so quickly. It seems like only two minutes ago I was all wide eyed and eager to be on campus . Now I feel like a veteran fighter of SPSS software, Research papers , Journals and library books. Don't even get me started about he referencing !

I am happy with the progress that I have made this year but the attendance is a bit of a let down. Understandable considering that I have been dealing with personal issues, stump splitting and other health issues that have plagued me more this year then last. But if I have managed to get the results I have off the attendance I have had for this year then next year they will be even better.

Preparations have gone well and I have actually managed to get some decent revision time in. I have been sent my exam timetable where I have been given extra time , PC use and a scribe if necessary. This has greatly put my mind at ease.

Another area of assessment was for an electric wheelchair. I was referred by the Disabled Service Center at the Freeman's. But this has took at least four month for an appointment to come through in order to be seen. I ended up having to miss University as it was an all day appointment. They could not give me an actual time that they would be coming out. Well after waiting all day they came out and the assessment was over and done with in five minutes. I have to wait 3 month to find out if I qualify then two month to get an appointment to try one out then another 2 month before i get one. But here is the downside. It can be lifted into a vehicle and it cant be folded down to go in a boot. So what ever car I use mine or a taxi has to have ramps that I have to maneuver the wheelchair up. After my track record of wheelchair ramps with Station taxis and various others, including my close call with ending up in hospital because one taxi company dropped me off the side at the top of  a pair of these ramps, well, lets just say am not convinced it will be beneficial or indeed useful for me.

Still no news on being referred for a scan on my legs and stumps for blocked vessels or issues. If you remember this was due to the splitting of the stumps and the lack of colour and how cold the legs where becoming. Put it this way they would be warmer sometimes being stuck in the freezer at -30.

But an assessment of another type has been received. The dreaded  PIP !!!!! da da daaaaaa!!!

So finally it is my chance to go through the process of the PIP reassessment for my DLA. This should be interesting . Now there has been a lot of horror story's going around about being assessed for this such as people losing there benefits, being asked if limbs will grow back. being told they are capable for work or not being told that they qualify for mobility for a car. So I have two large booklets to fill in , trying to explain to some one who might have no medical experience what so ever that no matter how many times the form asks, no I can not walk with out my prosthesis, yes that means I can't climb stairs, no my wheelchair does not turn me into a darlek meaning I can now do steps etc by flying. Oh and no, they are not going to grow back anytime soon.

But although this is a stressful month there is light at the end of the tunnel. One point of light is I have re booked Disney for three weeks this time next October. This is booked through Jetsave so lets see how they compare to Thompson. The assistance form leaves a lot to be desired so reserving judgement on the rest. This time trying a deluxe resort at the Wilderness lodge. So considering we had excellent service from a value hotel and a moderate hotel from Disney, I am expecting this to blow my mind.

A second light is that we are definatley going to London Film and Comic Con at the Olympia this July. I am nervous about this as I have no idea what the facilities for wheelchair users are. Looked at the layout of the exhibition center and seems easy enough but lets wait and see. Getting cars to take us down as am not brave enough yet to try British rail lol. Staying at the Olympia Hilton that has been booked online and have stated that am a wheelchair user so again lets see what happens. Showmasters as yet have not replied to any communications regarding disabled issues etc. tut tut.So this is me going out of my comfort zone. Watch this space for feed back on both of these things.

Also looking at trying to get people together to do gishwhes which is a world scavenger hunt and hoping to get tickets to Asylum 16 which is a Supernatural convention. Watch this space as well as me and Jo have opted to do The Great North Run in 2016 dressed as......wait for it.......AB FAB ! am Eddy of course :)  This is in order to raise funds for The Psych Twins so we can open a center to offer support, advice and counselling for disabled people and their families including families of children with ADHD and ASD. A news article to follow on this soon.

Here are some links all you need to do is copy and paste them into your browser:

https://www.facebook.com/theamputeediaries

https://www.facebook.com/psychtwinsfundraising?ref=tn_tnmn

https://gishwhes.com/

https://twitter.com/greebo89

http://www.showmastersevents.com/

So no pressure then......

PREPARATIONS , BIRTHDAYS AND COMIC CONS

I am trying to improve the blog so that as well as detailing my life, trials and tribulations being an amputee and in a wheelchair, but also as a source of information, help and advice.

I would like to think that if just one person found an answer to a question or reassurance that life goes on and they don't need to think of themselves as a burden on family then  I have done something right.

We are coming to the end of our first year on University campus but my 2nd year of a 4 year extended degree in Psychology. It has had its ups and downs but has definitely been an experience that am glad I had and looking forward to next year.

The support has been brilliant from Student Finance, the disability team at University and from the staff themselves. But we are now coming up to exam time. eeek ! But do not fear, every thing has been put in place for me to succeed , well as far as not worrying about access etc I still have to sit and pass the damn things.

I have received my own timetable, been given extra time to complete exams a long with a separate room and invigilator, PC and some one to scribe for me if needed. This is brilliant as it takes off any added worry or pressure that this could have caused for me. Now just need to try and stay calm and sit the exams in May. Wish me luck.

Last month I took part in a number of things after making a promise to myself to have as many new experiences as possible. Never let anyone tell you you cannot do something because you are disabled or in a wheelchair.

First off I took place in raising money for Student Minds through a group at university called Thinking Ahead.  This involved doing a couple of radio interviews with Sun FM. I set a target of  raising  £100 , once reached then I would shave my head.Well as you can see from the photo the target was not just reached but smashed with a grand total of approx £182 raised ! The head shave took place in The Prospect building at University where we offered people the chance to take a chunk of hair for a donation. After an hour the head was shaved.

If you wish to donate the link is https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jenniferclark1

Thinking Ahead are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thinkingaheadsunderland?fref=ts

We also celebrated two birthdays in the house. Toyah turned five and Eden turned nine. Unfortunately did not make Toyah's birthday party due to ill health , but from all reports it was a success and Elsa stole the show.

Eden's was held at the Sandcastle Pub in there fun house. Access for myself was fine with no issues being able to get in or out of the building or the fun house. The children all had a great time and what was even better was there was no mess for me to clean up. So a win win situation.

My other big outing during March was to Newcastle Comic Con which was organised by Showmasters. We bought Early bird tickets for both the Saturday and Sunday. We all got dressed up and on the Saturday I went as Maleficent.

 The attendants on the car park where helpful and checked the blue badge before directing us to disabled parking then informed us that it was free. Bouns ! Access to the building was on the level and no issues getting in . Although after the event I found out that on production of my DLA letter and Davids Carers letter he could have got in for free. The website does not state this any where and having emailed them several times about other things they are really bad at replying. As yet am still waiting for reply's on my questions !

The foyer was not crowded and no one give me a second look, well to be fair with all the Green Arrows, Storm Troopers , Darth Vader's etc I guess I wouldn't.

Being honest I was concerned about how things would work for me accessing stalls , autographs and photo shoots. But apart from the odd hiccup it was nothing to worry about and there was other people with wheelchairs etc present as well.

Showmasters had handled things really well considering how badly things could have gone and I was impressed. It made my first Comic Con very enjoyable and wanting me to do more. The staff where helpful regarding access to signing and  the photo ops and the stars themselves went out of their way to make sure I got the same opportunity as the other fans. Finding the disabled toilets at the venue proved a challenge

so ended up using the normal toilets and getting out of the wheelchair to use the cubicle. Not great if that is not an option. Getting around was slow as the venue was not large enough for what they had in there and the main worry was Anna crashing me into stalls, autograph tables (which she did twice) and taking peoples ankles out. It also made shopping and looking at the stalls very difficult. But we waited until it had cleared out a bit by 4 pm and accessing the stalls at that point and being able to get around was fine, much easier. If you don't like crowds or being hemmed in with the threat of going into some one or them falling on you I would  wait until it has quieted down for the shopping.

The only problem with that is that the traders bring limited stock with them so you may miss the chance of getting that certain something.

Unfortunately due to the long day and excitement my fibro flared up and stopped me from going on the Sunday. But I must have made such an impression as Garret Wang ( ensign Kim from voyager) saw Anna and asked where I was .....not sure if that was good or not as not certain whether it meant I made a good impression or the wrong type of impression !

So something I want to try again. Thinking about heading down to London Comic Con at the Olympia, Again not certain of their access at the venue for wheelchair users as waiting on Showmasters replying to my email. But lets see what happens. Hotels are proving  difficult as a couple of them that are near the exhibition center are  not disabled accessible, nor  do they have accessible bathrooms.

Transport is also proving an issue as we are trying not to take the car due to the long drive and the price of parking. We are trying to stay as near as possible so we don't have the nightmare of trying to access public transport  such as the tube !
Also off down to Manchester in May with Anna as  she is going to see Tyler Oakley???? Which means we are taking her down and having an over night stop down there to do some shopping. So this should also prove to be an interesting experience. I have to admit these two next trips will be very much taking me out of my comfort zone and I have many concerns especially about how things will work for access, transport and accommodation.


Another thing I am trying to put into place is a fundraising site called The Psych Twins. This is to raise money and awareness for local North East Charities. In October we are going to be holding a Monster Masquerade ball to raise funds for Sunderland Carers Center. We have a comedian and burlesque act . meal. raffell and disco all being held at the Stadium of Light. We have Johnny Depp's official stand in Simon Newton attending as well as a special guest to be announced nearer the time.

https://www.facebook.com/psychtwinsfundraising?ref=hl

But on top of this I am currently carrying out research on services pre and post op for amputees .  I believe that not enough is being done with regards to advice, support and therapy.
Once the research has been carried out my colleague and I are hoping to set up a center where we will be able to provide this along with a web page containing advice and on line or telephone counselling.

If you can spare five minutes and are an amputee please follow the link and complete the survey.

https://surveyplanet.com/5509dfbe1945880c2c5b4701

If you do need to talk , advice or concerns you can contact me through twitter or Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/theamputeediaries

https://twitter.com/greebo89

TIME GOES SO QUICK....

So Annabelle 16th birthday has came and gone already. Michael is coming up twenty one in less then a week and Eden ( my second eldest daughter ), turns nine the day after Mikey.

As well as getting crowned in Disney we took her for a meal in town. A restaurant called D'Aqua in Sunderland.

Now this restaurant does not have disabled access, in fact there is quiet a steep set of steps at the front of the premises. However upon ringing them they helped to solve the problem and told me that there would be no issues for me to use the kitchen access at the back of the building as it was ramped with one small step to negotiate,

The staff and owners bent over backwards for myself and to accommodate the wheelchair and where fantastic with the little ones as well. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they made the children feel welcome. even thought it is what I would class as a up market/ chic restaurant. As for myself I felt very comfortable and not once did they make me feel as if I was an inconvenience ! Bravo ! unfortunately there are not many places around where they bother to take into account your whole experience including how you feel and make you feel welcome.

So if you are looking for somewhere a little different and that little bit special I would defiantly give this place a go.

If you do have mobility issues like myself then do ring them They are very accommodating (within reason of course), and are more then happy to help if they can, The prices where good and the food quality was out of this world. My kids can be fussy eaters especially Tyler as he has sensory ASD, but they left nothing and even asked for more.

 The cake we had made for her by Bella Sweet delights, I will put the link for both the restaurant and Bella at the end of this blog should you be interested.

The limb center meeting about the bleeding stumps and coldness of the legs went better then expected. They are sending me for a scan of my legs as although they have a good pulse they could be a narrowing of the arteries or a blockage which is causing the issue.

This has had to be referred from the GPs  so as yet still waiting on an appointment.

The kitchen is now looking more like a kitchen. We finally got a sink back and cupboards to put things away. Still waiting on flooring but we do have the holes fixed with ply wood over the top, An extractor fan and tilling still need to be done so we can then decorate but still missing skirting boards.

This has now been on going for  6 or 7 weeks now so starting to get a little sick and tired of it all.

The last thing I want to mention is help for anyone who might be looking or thinking of going back to work.

Don't think that there is no help out there as if you need support, help with your travel needs or specialist equipment then it is available through Access to Work.

As well as this there is a little known about incentive for employers to take you on as well. There are funds available for the prospective employer to have adaptations done at no expense to them as well as money for taking you on. There is no cost to the employer for any help or equipment supplied. This can include things like chairs, desks or wrist rests and many more things.


Next time I will be reviewing the services used for Toyahs birthday, my charity head shave, Sun FM interview and help being put in place for the exams (hopefully ).

I would love feed back on this blog so please feel free to share and comment and if there is anything in particular you would like me to look into or have a question about then please let me know.

On a lighter note..when moving please remember to take the one break off you have put on as you will end up going round in circles..just like I did because I forgot !

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellas-sweet-delights/619275984859630?fref=ts

http://www.dacqua.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DAcqua-Restaurant-and-Bar/158809227587465?fref=ts

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview