How to get back into education

[Steamed]

Hello,

I was hit by a car while on the pavement seventeen years ago, sustaining a right frontal lobe injury, I was fifteen at the time.

Since then I've made as good as a recovery as anyone seeing me at the time could have hoped for, but i think the main symptom I've been left with is a reluctance to move towards goals of mine because I doubt the practicality of achieving them.

I want to study but I have not got obvious means to, I was wondering if there was a grant for head injury survivors to go into further education or to undergo training?

Or if anyone else has experienced feeling like they have deliberately held themselves back for no clear reason in a once bitten twice shy kind of way?

[cat3]

Hi Steamed and welcome. Please contact Headway as they have a wealth of printed information on returning to education. The helpline number is 0808 800 2244 (free calls - office hours). Alternatively just Google 'Returning to education after brain injury' and select the Headway link for the information to download.

Good for you for thinking along the lines of further education. I left grammar school aged 15 as I hated it, but started at college when I was 34 to gain O & A levels...……. and loved every minute of ! For me it was pretty basic but there are no limits to how far you can progress, and the atmosphere in mature education is SO much more friendly, supportive and unthreatening than in Secondary.

Headway will have details of grants, concessions etc. So go for it …….and if it isn't for you then there's nothing lost, but it might be the beginning of a whole new life ! Good luck in getting started...…

Cat x

[WinB]

Hi Steamed read about a girl who had a brain bleed she went onto University and got her degree. So never give up..Keep moving forward with a smile at hand for those bad days xxxx I never got one when I was okay ! Good luck xxxx

[Itakitez]

Hi Steamed. I empathize with you in two counts. The first is that after my head injury I’ve wanted a career change as I can’t see a way forwards for the new me in my old life / career and secondly because I’ve identified that a career change will require retraining.

Other than that I can’t help. Just hope it’s enough for you to know there’s more than one in the same boat!

[Hidden]

I'm starting a OU Access module next month after a long 12 years stroke journey. I'm nervous and a little excited by it because I'm still struggling with stroke issues and I never did well at school but after a good think and talking to an advisor I went for it. The application was easy enough and there is lots of support if students need it so fingers crossed I will enjoy this new journey. Have a look at the OU yourself see if anything grabs your attention

[Steamed]

Thanks to everyone for the replies and info.

It's encouraging stuff.

[Broken_Doll]

Hi steamed,

I sustained my traumatic brain injury 5 years ago (three brain haemorrhages and widespread damage to frontal and both temporal lobes) plus a broken neck but I am happy to report that I have just completed my second week at university to become a Physiotherapist.

There aren’t any grants for people with brain injuries per se but you might qualify for a disabled students allowance, this allows funding for any specialist equipment, software and other things like mentors and 1-1 support.

The important thing is to expect things to take time. I had been “chipping away” at my goals for the previous two years studying Maths has English functional skills. This was a nice gentle FREE way to explore my capabilities within education.

I wish you the very best of luck my friend!

Emma

[MBGH1]

Your local and nearby colleges may offer ACCESS courses.

Wishing you all the best.

[Madiepetsana]

Hi Steamed. I am a brain injury survivor who also opted for education upgrade after the ordeal. I had a VP shunt inserted in 2001 and had some time to recuperate. I then applied to study on a distance mode, got accepted for the MBA. Believe you me, I managed to pass eleven of the required modules and have to still submit a dissertation.

My only hurdle now is , (as I am now unemployed) I have no money to pay for the overdue fees (R8000) and enrol for the dissertation to complete the degree and that delays my graduation.

Hold on to your dreams and keep the spirit, good luck in your endeavours.

[KNSJ44]

Hi . My husband is a TBI survivor. I have seen his initial desire to become ‘ what he was’ & then the realisation that he is now different. But - education should not just be seen as a goal for work status, but as a way of giving you new achievements and an opportunity to create a different hobby with a wealth of new learning. Hubby enrolled on a college course & he needed help from his therapists to find ways to learn/recall/use a computer etc etc but he did it . The education doesn’t have to be purely academic, you could try a hands on course ( although there will always be academic work included with it). Good luck & reach for the stars( for YOU)..! X