UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Yup I am a numpty (some may say)

Sat with the options of

a) waiting list is around a year for the graft

b) additional year at uni

c) do year at uni whilst waiting for graft

d) defer place at uni and get frustrated with the wait

so initally defered it due to the amount of visual disturbance as couldn't find any eye drops I was getting along with, started lens fittings thus far no success but plodding on with that as of next week.

Found eye drops that work just before I got married !! - woot!

Came back from honey moon and still wanted to defer course, but then spent the weekend just gone thinking was that really the right thing to do?

So emails back and forth to university them saying it was too late for me to start this accademic year, so gave up the idea and had that set.

THEN THIS MORNING CHECK MY EMAIL TO FIND A APPOLOGY AS THE SILLY WOMAN IN ADMIN DIDN'T READ MY EMAIL THAT MENTIONED 'UNDER THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT AND REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS WHAT CAN YOU OFFER ME?'

SO guess who is back at uni as of next week, am I doing the right thing? don't know will find out in July.

But excited as thinking of it as a year of studying, already debating standing to be a sabatical officer iwthin the university union execuative next year (2010-11) can potentially be a sab for 2 years, which will give eye time to recover from graft, then do a masters.

Am I crazy, stupid, weird, determind, confusing, mental or insert other description I wont be offended.

Lea
xox
ps advanced warning and appologies of any rants I may post.

Great news Lea! All the very best and have a great year!
Anne

Hope it all works out for you.

You're not the only one that has been thinking about a return to Uni but for me it is close to 20 years since I graduated!

Had to giggle though when choosing my elective modules I could of chosen a 'open learning' one into a 'health condition of your choice' and was sat there going NO NOT KC LEAVE ME ALONE! so lets say I didnt take that module as I know I would of got obsessed and not been satisfied and no tutor would of been able to deal with the rainforest they recieved to mark.

Gareth - nowt wrong iwth wanting to go back to uni, it is never too late (G-d I hated education then did my FDSocial Care and fell in love with studying - bit mental)

There is apparently someone who is 83 next month and going to graduate from LMU with a diploma in adult nursing this summer which I think is awesome

Now to check if my fellow met heads have claimed any more victories against LUU at Varsity

Anne - thanks I can't tell you how releived I was when I found out no exams to sit, I could of cried, after remembering that first conversation I had wiht you in may when you saved my sanity.

All the best

Andrew

The only problem for me now is that I have to consider suporting my familly as my wifes income isn't enough to live on, daughter starts comprehensive school next year and we still have a mortgage. Looking into funding as I think I would be hard pushed to repay a student loan before I hit retirement age. Mind you as both Labour and Concervative are looking at upping the retirement age I might still be working into my 70's

At least this time round I should be able to start a course with a decent level of vision unlike last time when I had a graft 5 weeks before starting uni and the second graft during the summer break between the first and second year.

i still have to fill out a student loan form, our flat is shared ownership adn we are at the moement about 3 months behind iwht the rent due to DWP mucking up income support when we wrote a changed circumstances form - took them from may till august to tell us they had recived the bluming thijng and then early august stopped money to investigate - heaps of phone calls on monday and I think things are gettihng sorted, today we are ment to be going to the one stop place to finsih a housing benefit form for help with some of the rent. Ben wanted to go into town early, I am only awake as the phone went and it was a friend from uni asking why I have been awol for hte last 2 week!

Thankfully in a wya I know there is aditional grants, if you are on a low income you can get a maintense grant along side student loan regardless of maritatal status age etc, you can also claim for dependants. I know the national union of students have been campaigning heavily to getting students iwth caring responsibilities listened to by student loans company as well as universities and futher education colleges. as a boring bit of informationbut over 70% of peooppe who are members of NUS or have aNUS card aere actually in futher education not university, but those who are most active are often in uni, but there is a lot of actavism within fe. (g-d I sound like a NUS geek)

Fee top ups scare me and worry me as so much for inclusive education for all and access tolearning! not to mention education bills to GAH THIS GETS ME ANNOYED! Education should not be for the privildged education is a human right, and aneed to learn more about a area of interest should be encouraged and embraced.

Next task student loans and stop procrastinating.

Lea
xx