SSppeecciiaallEEddiittiioonn

Welcome to the second issue of Special Edition, the Exposure supplement for youngpeople with special needs. The words special needs cover all sorts of problems that affect the way people learn,communicate and behave. A group of young people with special needs may all have verydifferent problems that affect them in may different ways, so like everybody else, they areall very different people. In this issue young people talk about their lives, what they like doing, and their futures, andwe catch up with the young people who contributed to the last issue to find out how theyfelt about seeing their work published.

by marcel, 14

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My parents were happy tosee my pictures. I feelhappy. They said, You arein a magazine, were soproud. My friends said,Look theres a magazinewith us in it. I like lookingat the picture of me with asnake around my neck.

Its a fantastic feeling seeingmy work in a magazine. Peoplesaid, Ali, youre in a magazine!I feel proud of myself. In myarticle I talked about wantingto be a motorbike rider whenIm older. Seeing those words inthe magazine made it real.

pprroouudd ttoo bbee iinn pprriinntt!!

By Ali, 14

By Jason, 15

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I felt like I was very open to tell peoplemy experiences. My mother hasnt seenmy article yet. She has a big, big heart.I have two friends in france who arevery sweet. I will tell them to read mywork on the Exposure website. I love tomeet new friends and share problemswith them.

My mum saw it and was happy. I was so happy to see my article.

I read my article when Iwent to Number 10, theYouth Club in Bruce Grove. Ihad to think about who toshow it to.

I wish Samantha was here.I dont feel right having myphoto taken without herbecause were best friends andour article was about us both.

By Mirela, 19

By Sarah, 15

By Yasmin, 14

By Marcel, 14

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I have a sister, Susanna, who is 16 years oldand has a rare chromosome disorder. Herspecial needs mean to me that she is extraspecial in every way.

I normally try to talk to my sister and she likesto do a lot of the stuff I do, like going to thecinema and shopping. She also really likeswatching films and wearing make-up.Whenever I do my make-up, I try to involveher as much as I can by sharing my make-upwith her. Susanna is a big fan of music andhas loads of CDs in her room and listens tothem 24/7. I feel that after my 13 years ofliving I have grown into looking after kidsand may even work with kids when Im older.

Sometimes I imagine having a sister who isntaffected by special needs so I could go outmore with her and she could look after me,not the other way around. I have had to growup quicker as I am kind of the oldest.Sometimes I feel ok about Susanna being theway she is because I cant change anything,but sometimes I get upset wishing she hadno special needs. I try and spend a lot of timewith my sister and not leave her out. I love mysister as she is most special.

by susanna, 16

mmuussiicc && mmeeI am Susanna. I am 16. I go to a very special school. The school is for children with special needs. I love it there. Ive got lots of friends.I do lots of activities at school. I enjoy doing creative things like Art and Music.I love Computers too. When Im at home I listen to music. I love The Spice Girls.I love Hairspray songs.I also love High School Musical songs and Grease songs. I love to sing and dance.I like to relax and watch good films (mostly musicals).I spend lots of time with my family. I love my little sister and little brother.

by gaby, 14

eexxttrraa ssppeecciiaall ssiisstteerrss!!

illustrations by dane brown

gaby

susanna

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This is my story of being an avenger of my dead clanbecause my brother kills all of them. I study very well tobe so strong. All the girls want me and all the boys wantto be like me because I am the top student in the ninjaacademy. Ever since I was a kid I knew the situation of adojo student. My life was learning how to become a coolgenius like Sasuke Uchiha. I started to name my mates, bygiving them codenames like Blader, Shadow theHedgehog and Darker X-Ray. I had an accident at the labwhen broken glass hit my arm. When I went to my room Ifelt swollen. Then I got better and learnt some new skills.

P.S. These are some bags I designed.

by yasmin, 14(code name: snake skechers)

mmyy ccooooll ssttoorryy

I am studying computing, likelearning how to type. Sometimeswe play board games at collegeand sometimes we do drama. Myfavourite thing at college iswatching DVDs. I like films thatmake me laugh. I love High SchoolMusical. Sometimes people atcollege dont talk to me. I just geton with things and try to ignorethem. When I ask them, Are youmy friend?, they shake their headand walk away. I dont understandwhy they do that. When I am older,I want to work in a CD shopbecause I love music.

ccoolllleeggeelliiffee

by antonia, 20

by sharon, 18

I like using computers. I like doingart and going to school. I lovedrawing. In my picture I have drawnleaves, a heart and a light becausethey are my favourite things.

ffaavvoouurriittee tthhiinnggss

antonia

sharon

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In the future, I see myself being a beautytherapist. I would also like to learn aboutreflexology and massage. I would like to workfor a big company. It is important to me totake care of how I look, like my personalappearance. Usually I only use natural creamsfor my face. I always like to be very clean andto wear smart clothes. If I am working as abeauty therapist, the way I look is like anadvertisement for future clients: my looksattract people and they will ask me to dotheir treatment.

I have almost finished Stage 1 of my course inbeauty therapy and I will progress to Stage 2which is a bit harder. Im very grateful to a lotof people who are helping me develop,especially Dexter at Bruce Grove YouthCentre. If I have a problem, Dexter explainsthings to me and helps me find solutions.

I carry people that I love in my mind and inmy heart. When I was living in Romania, I hadgood friends and I will never forget them.From the age of three, I was living in awonderful orphanage in Romania. I had thebest time there and everyone treated mewell. When I went to the next orphanage at17, they treated me like a dog. They werecruel to me.

I feel happy and safe in London and I love thestaff at Bruce Grove Youth Centre, especiallyFaith and Dexter. I also like Mirella fromExposure who has the same name as me.These people are understanding. Dexter hasgiven me so much confidence and has beenlike a father to me. Before I met him, I wasscared but now I feel safe. Thank you so muchfor believing in me.

mmyy lliiffee && mmyy ffuuttuurree

by mirela, 19

illustration by mirela

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I like going to Bruce Grove Youth Centre every week.I do drawings, meet friends and listen to music. I feelhappy there. My best friend, Antonia comes too.

The rest of the time I stay at home. I love watching TVlike EastEnders and The Bill. I live with my mum, dadand six brothers and sisters. I am the oldest. It feelsgood being the oldest. I take my brothers and sistersto the park sometimes. Weve got a big house.

I was going to Tottenham College and doing a flowerarrangement course. I remember I made my mum aclay flower to show my feelings of love for herbecause she looks after me. She looks after all of us.Ive got three more years left of my course and thenI want to study childcare because I want to be achildminder. Flowers are my favourite things,especially daffodils. I feel excited about seeing meand my flowers in Exposure magazine.

I am scared about getting stabbed becausestabbings happen alot. The other day a group ofpeople tried stabbing me at the bus stop.

I am really upset children havent got any food inAfrica. If I could, I would send them my food.

fflloowweerr ppoowweerr

by leanne, 20

antonia & leanne(best friends)

illustrationby missi

flowersby leanne

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by ali, 14

This booklet was produced byyoung people at Bruce GroveYouth Centre and Exposure,Haringey's award-winning youthmedia charity. It was paid for byAwards For All.The following young people tookpart in this project:Ali AhmedAntonia EllisGabriella CamerotaDane BrownJason TalbertLeanne BushellMarcel FearonMirela ConfederatSharon AdokorahSusanna CamerotaYasmin Hassa

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