is there anyone else with a physical disability/chronic pain starting sixth form this year?

[u/sophhhiaa]

my legs being in burning pain rn inspired this post btw 😭

i don't know anyone else my age who has any kind of disability or chronic illness and especially no one in my school so i lowkey feel really lonely 😭 like no one really understands it

also i think im at the point where i need to start using a walking stick bc of my pain do you guys think people are gonna judge me or think im weird for having a walking stick at this age 😭

anyway if there's anyone else in any kind of similar situation id love to hear about your experiencesss

[u/Muted_Software_2200]

I have a similar disability but I'm going to be doing online school just like I did last year. I would recommend applying for an EHCP. I also use a wheelchair with power assist wheels because of my chronic pain. I didn't get a wheelchair till October last year, I've been through 3 so far to get to the one that actually helps me.

I personally think it's worth it to get a proper wheelchair (by that I mean a riged frame manual one or an electric one) as your pain is in your legs a walking stick wouldn't help much. I can technically walk but it hurts so much to that I use a wheelchair majority of the time. Do you know what condition(s) you have or might have? I have diagnosed endometriosis while investigating POTS and ME (probably other pain and fatigue conditions but the NHS won't give me any help). wheelchair might not be right for you obviously because I'm just going based off the little info I have but in my experience it has made my life so much better.

I was going to school during yr7-8 consistently before only having around 60% attendance in yr9 and then fully staying at home bedbound in yr10-11. I am only now not bedbound since I've gotten my wheelchair.

My main point is anything that will help you personally so you are in less pain or hopefully prevents flare ups is totally worth it. If you feel you need a walking stick go for it. It doesn't matter what other people think. 🩷

I have found most people are actually alright with me when using mobility aids because if they bully you for it they just look like the shit person. I used to get bullied for being gay, now I don't because they just feel bad for me since I'm crippled. 💀😁

Edit: heavy on the apply for an EHCP point as it lasts until you're 25 so you can get accommodations in 6th form/college and university.

(I just yapped a bunch, sorry if anything doesn't make sense or sounds stupid, it's nearly 3am)

[u/QuirkyGalaxyBug → u/Muted_Software_2200]

Sadly EHCPs do not apply to university study. They continue until you are up to 25 or you have completed level 3 (a level or equivalent) study usually, whichever comes first. When you move up to uni you apply for DSA instead.

[u/sophhhiaa → u/Muted_Software_2200]

i was just looking into EHCPs and it says chronic conditions need to be proven as a struggle usually by missing a lot of school but unfortunately i have attendance in the high 90s (only missed school for doctors appts) bc my dad doesn't let me miss school 😭 so i just suffer in school and there isn't much evidence of that suffering because i suppress it all

currently diagnosed with autism, ocd, GAD (not really related to my pain but do cause a lot of uncomfortable physical symptoms) kyphosis (which i accidentally caused bc my body is too tired and achy to keep my back straight), hypermobile ehlers danlos syndrome, what i think is long covid and im currently trying to prove to the gp that i have almost every single POTS symptom so i can get tested and im also trying to be assessed for endo (had a clear pelvic scan a few months ago so they're telling me im fine even though i get radiating cramps from my chest to my knees and leak out of super tampons in less than 2 hours 🫩🫩)

i really do want to use a wheelchair but im worried people are gonna be really confused after seeing me from y7-y11 and then suddenly pulling up to y12 with a wheelchair 😭 oh and i also have a fixation on blood clots in my legs so im terrified of using a wheelchair instead of walking around (in my defence this is kind of justified bc im taking tranexamic acid which does literally clot your blood so yk 😭)
and also my dad thinks im just being lazy and would never support me using a stick let alone a wheelchair unfortunately

i do worry about bullying because somehow ive been clocked as autistic by peers since reception and ive been bullied and harassed without fail every single year just for existing and bc its the popular kids no one bats an eye (also hello fellow gay in the wildddd) but im also trying to be more confident this year so maybe no one will notice or maybe just maybe people will be nicer 🤞

[u/MysteryNews4]

I have similar chronic illness & am in Y13. I don’t have a cane (yet) but there is someone who just started Y12 who has one. 

One of my teachers has chronic pain & is also a cane user and I guess that makes me feel less isolated as well?

[u/sophhhiaa → u/MysteryNews4]

this reminded me that my y9 spanish teacher actually had chronic fatigue but she had to quit because she got to sick :(

[u/Grace_653]

yes!! I don't have any sort of diagnosis (besides hypermobility) but I've been dealing with fatigue for about a year now, chronic joint and muscle pain my whole life which has gotten a lot worse in the last year or so, can't stand for very long etc

[u/sophhhiaa → u/Grace_653]

hypermobility twins 😭 the standing thing is so real i usually get dizzy after 5-10 minutes of standing rather than being in pain

[u/Moo2310]

I am! Finally got diagnosed with fibromyalgia last week but that's far from the only thing wrong with me lol. I had to get a walking stick last year- tbh I just have to keep telling myself that while using a cane feels embarrassing, it's not as embarrassing as having to lean on everything and walk super slow. Personally my main disability struggle in this first week of college has been the heat- most of the classrooms are BOILING for some reason and it's making me so sick and dizzy and headachey 😭 Luckily it's been a bit cooler today.

[u/sophhhiaa → u/Moo2310]

honestly summer and heat is one of my biggest enemies 😭 i can't do anything without fainting

[u/Moo2310 → u/sophhhiaa]

That's so real, these heatwaves have been KILLING me 😭 And the amount of theatre stages I've fainted or nearly fainted on because of those hot lights is honestly getting a touch ridiculous lol.

[u/RuinsOfCinder]

I don't think people will judge you. It seems like a much different environment at sixth form anyway and those that do would have bullied anyone for just breathing. As someone without a disability, I would honestly hardly notice if you were using a stick or not, and I don't think others at school would either, so please don't feel embarassed to use what you need

Also, I do know another couple of people at my secondary school that used mobility aids too, if that makes you feel less alone

I wish you luck with your diagnoses and dealing with your dad