Under Exposure: Special Edition
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UNDER by Chidi, 15 Words like ‘special needs’, ‘mental disabilities’ or ‘learning difficulties’ are used to cover all sorts of problems that affect the way people learn, communicate and behave. So although a group of young people might all be called ‘special needs’, as individuals they may all have very different problems that affect them in very different ways. And of course, like everybody else, they are all very different people. In this issue of Under Exposure, a group of young people talk about what it is really like to live with their particular needs. Special Edition
description
Words like ‘special needs’, ‘mental disabilities’ or ‘learning difficulties’ are used to cover all sorts of problems that affect the way people learn, communicate and behave. So although a group of young people might all be called ‘special needs’, as individuals they may all have very different problems that affect them in very different ways. And of course, like everybody else, they are all very different people. In this issue of Under Exposure, a group of young people talk about what it isreally like to live with their particular needs.
Transcript of Under Exposure: Special Edition
UNDER
by Chidi, 15
Words like ‘special needs’,‘mental disabilities’ or‘learning difficulties’ areused to cover all sorts ofproblems that affect theway people learn,communicate and behave.So although a group ofyoung people might all becalled ‘special needs’, asindividuals they may allhave very differentproblems that affect themin very different ways. Andof course, like everybodyelse, they are all verydifferent people. In this issue of UnderExposure, a group of youngpeople talk about what it isreally like to live with theirparticular needs.
Special
Edition
Hello, my name is Mirella and I am fromRomania. Romania is a tiny little countryin the middle of Europe. I have been livingin London for nine months now. London isso big. There’s a big difference betweenRomania and England.
In Romania, I was in an orphanage fromthe age of three until 17, which is when Idecided by myself to move to London fora better life and for more opportunities.
A friend of mine brought me here.London is an expensive place to live butit’s nice. I go to B6 Sixth Form College andI am studying to be a beauty therapist.
I’ve known the English language since Iwas four years old so I find it easy tocommunicate with people. I live with afoster mother. She’s very posh and nice.She takes good care of me and watchesover me.
by Mirella, 18
Moving on Peaceman!
My favourite music is Hip-Hop and Rap-Rock music. I like fighting games, zombiegames and shooting games onPlayStation. In America there are toomany real shootings - the most in theworld. Rappers like Tupac, Big L,Notorious B.I.G. have all been killed.
I think stabbings in London betweenyoung people are very sad too and I wantfreedom, friendship and peace in London.
by Yasmin, 14
One of my three brothershas special needs. Whenhe was six weeks old hehad meningitis which lefthim brain damaged. Helooks 19 but mentally he
is immature and behaves like an eight year old.
I don’t like talking to my brother about hisspecial needs. I’m not sure how he feelsabout or even understands the conditionhe has.
He’s big and strong and is really good atplaying footbal and he goes to watchTottenham Hotspur. In front of people heshows off a lot and thinks he’s funny.Sometimes when he gets really angry, hecan be violent - he doesn’t hit anyone buthe throws stuff like remote controls or shoes.
When we were younger we used to play.We had strange games but we had fun.Now that I am 15 and he has stayed thesame age, it’s growing harder to findcommon ground.
It’s difficult living with someone withspecial needs, but it has helped me realisehow lucky I am to be able to do all thethings I want to.
by Samantha, 15
He is mybrother
I really don’t like going to Mosellebecause it is a special needs school. Idon’t feel it’s right for me - I want to be ina mainstream school.
I went to a mainstream primary schooland I feel that I would be able to handle amainstream Secondary School. I don’t likespecial needs stuff whatsoever. I want togo to Northumberland Park School.
It’s down to parents where I go to schooland whether the decision to go toNorthumberland Park will change. If I talkabout it enough, they might allow me togo there, and this article might help themrealise how strongly I feel about this.
by Marcel, 13
hands upif you dislike your
I don’t like being atMoselle Upper Schoolbecause it’s a specialneeds school. I want togo to NorthumberlandPark because it’s a good
school with a swimming pool.
I feel very sad about being called specialneeds. I’ve told my family I want to leaveMoselle because I don’t feel I am a specialneeds person. They said that if I studyhard I will go to Northumberland Park.
by Yasmin, 14
school!
Hi, my name is Darrelland I’m 17 years old. Lastyear I was in the Tour deFrance with my bicycle.
We got the undergoundfrom Turnpike Lane allthe way to Trafalgar
Square. I like going on the train. When wegot to Trafalgar Square, we had somefood and then we started cycling.
We cycled all the way to Green Park andthen we stopped. We helped park thebikes in a van in Green Park. I felt fit andhealthy cycling. It was enjoyable toparticipate and one day next summer I’llhopefully do it again. It was arrangedthrough my school, Moselle Upper School.
I think Moselle is a good school. There arelots of sports to do at Moselle. A lot of myfriends at Moselle have special needs. Ifeel I am normal and some of my friendsdo too.
Illustrations by Sam, 15
on your
bike!
I like to watch comedy shows on theinternet especially on YouTube. I type theword ‘Jamaica’ which is my country and Iwatch funny comedy sketches. I enjoygoing to Number 10 every week andusing the computer facilities.
by Darrell, 17
Hi, my name is Ali. I am 13 years old and Igo to Moselle Upper School. I like goingto Moselle because it is a good school.
When I go to Number 10 at Bruce Grove, Ilike to go on Computers and to look atmotorbikes and motorcyclists. LorenzoZanetti is my favourite motorcyclist. I alsolike Max Biaggi. I would like to ride amotorbike when I’m older.
I love going on holidays. I recently wentto Germany with my family. My brotherlives there and so does my uncle. I havealso been to Holland where I went to thefunfair.
by Ali, 13
Illustration by Sarah, 15
Motor Head
snake charmerHi, my name is Jason and I’m 15. I go toMoselle Upper School. I like doing sports.I like lessons. I love snakes - they are myfavourite animals. I don’t feel scared ofthem - I have touched a snake. The mostimportant things in life are computersand to learn stuff.
by Jason, 15
Illustration by Jason, 15
Hello, we are best friends and our namesare Sarah and Samantha. We’ve knowneach other since we were little. We grewup in the same neighbourhood, and westill live in the same place, and we go tothe same school. We like to go to eachothers houses too.
We have other friends aswell but we’realways together. Even when we’re nottogether, we talk on MSN because we’rebest friends. We understand each otherand support each other.
We do girlie stuff when we’re together.We talk about boys and we laugh all thetime. We also talk about our educationbecause it’s important, like Maths,Science, English and History.
We have been on outings with the BruceGrove University in Summer holidays andit was fun to go to different theme parks.
by Sarah, 15 and by Samantha, 14
supportingeach other!
Illustration by Sarah, 15
This booklet was produced by young people at Bruce Grove Youth Centre and at Exposure,Haringey’s award-winning youth media charity. It was paid for by Awards For All.The following young people took part in this project:
Ali AhmedChidi Abei OperunDarrell MyersJason Talbert
Marcel FearonMirella ConfedertSamantha HardingSamantha Spink
Sarah Odogu-DosunmiYasmin Hassa
