Teacher Training PGCE Study and advice?

[Cirella]

Hi, I'm currently in the process of applying for DSA help for my teacher training PGCE that is starting soon. I have previously studied on a PGCE but I was only given a 10% reduction in timetabling halfway through the year and about a month before the course I became bedbound and had to drop out... (I was diagnosed during the year of the course).

So I guess, what I'm asking is...what kind of help do you think DSA can offer someone with CFS and Fibromyalgia? I'm not really sure what could possibly help the array of symptoms. I've made sure to take a part-time route this time round...to ease my study each week.

If any of you guys have studied with these conditions...what advice do you offer?

Oh and are there any specialist equipment things that you have found have helped?

Thanks in advance!! x

[johnsmith]

The question I want to ask is: What happens after you qualify? School Kids are ruthless. Under current laws there is no protection for adults from kids.

You may be taking the course part time. However, there is training in schools which may not happen at the times you are fit and well. Trying to take in what is said in a lecture when the head is not working is nearly impossible.

There is other training regimes for other careers that may be a better option. Not sure if this is what you want to hear.

Note. I did spend 10 years doing youth work and did tutoring of young people until 2002.

[wallflower_fairy]

Hi Cirella,

I can only speak from my own experience as an undergraduate student, and the support may differ for those doing a post graduate course.

But I've copied an extract of my own feedback I wrote to another student asking for similar information about what support is available:

What they provide to each student will depend on their condition and how they're affected by it, so - again - it's really important that you're clear on how it has an impact on your ability to carry out day to day life. I personally have a mentor, printing allowence, and a light weight laptop with assistive softwear on it (audio notetaker and a voice dictator).

I would advise finding a really understanding GP, or even someone higher, like a Rheumatologist maybe, if you have one, and get them to write a really detailed letter about your condition that you can both give your university and use in a DSA application. IMO, it's better to just get one good, detailed letter you can use for both uni and Student Finance and get it accurate the first time around, because in my experience, they don't like it when you continually ask for medical evidence, or when they're asked to change anything about it. So it's really important that you're prepared. Find a medical professional you have a trusted relationship with (who isn't cynical about Fibro) book a double appointment, and have a list of your Fibromyalgia symptoms with you and specifically how they can your day to day living. Bring in the DSA application form so the medical professional will be aware of what they're after too.

As for the form itself, if you have already applied for a maintenance and tuition fee loan from Student Finance then you only need to apply for DSA using a DSA Slim Form. If you're only applying for DSA without tuition or maintenance from Student Finance, you would need to use a DSA1 form. You should be able to get all this from the Direct Gov website. gov.uk/disabled-students-al...

Once you've been granted DSA for one year, you then won't need to apply for it again - the same level of support will continue for the following years until you've completed your course.

Fair warning, the whole process can take a while. Once you get accepted, you will then have to have a Needs Assessment with an Independent Needs Assessor, and they will then write up a report with recommendations to send to Student Finance. This is a further wait. And then if you get granted equipment you have to be the one to order it and you will be need training on using the assistive softwear - DSA do fund the training. But the training itself can take time and energy.

Unfortunately, people can also get lost in the system and find themselves waiting for far too long after they've been awarded DSA, and usually you stay stuck unless you chase it up, which can take furher time and energy. I'm afraid this happened to me and I needed help with getting it resolved which I didn't get for a long time. And it's happened to some other people I know.

That's why it's really important that you have supportive staff at uni on side who will be able to support you with this and make that neccessary phone call to SFE on your behalf if there's a mishap, because your limited time and energy has to go into managing rest and study. It's important to be realistic about this and the possibility of it happening. But if you think DSA will help, you go out there and get it. You deserve to have an equal chance to other people in your peer group - that's why they provide it.

Finally, should you need more support or advice your university should have a Student Union, and they should be able to offer you a whole range of advice based on your overall situation.

I really hope that everything will work out and you have a better experience doing your PGCE this time around. 😊

I personally won't be doing anymore studying after I've got my undergraduate degree because my experience of university has been drawn out and hectic - although since I've started I've had a lot of on going stress happening in my personal life, aside Fibro, which has made it very difficult for me, so definitely don't compare yourself to me (although I stand by what I said about the DSA process getting delayed and being prepared for this - you seem to be doing it in good time though, so you should be okay).

I know of a few people with Fibro who've successfully gone on to do post graduate study, so it can be done. 😊

Take care and good luck

Xx

P.S. the Direct Gov link doesn't work above so here it is again: gov.uk/disabled-students-al...

[margaretpaloma]

Sorry Cirella but I agree with JohnSmith. I taught at the beginning of my career and it is hardwork and stressful, especially for new teachers, and I believe it is even harder now. Even if you get a school that makes allowances for you the last thing you need with fibro and CFS is stress.