Meet Monty’s friend
In this section children meet Alex, a young boy who has fought and overcome meningitis. After looking at a short video interview with Alex, children are asked to think about Alex and the positive outlook he has on life.
Alex Williams contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia when he was 7 years old. After a lengthily stay in hospital Alex has been left with disabling after-effects. As a result of the septicaemia he has drop-foot and muscle problems in his legs, which means that he can walk unaided for some of the time but tires easily and needs to use a wheelchairs in the afternoons at school. As a result of the meningitis Alex now has some learning difficulties and finds it hard to concentrate, his memory has also been affected. It is almost five years since Alex was in hospital but he is now loosing his hearing, so constantly he and his family are facing new challenges at home and in school.
In this piece of film you will hear from Alex, his mum Alison and the Learning Support Manager at Egerton Park Arts College. They explain what it has been like returning to school after meningitis and what a difference it makes when special needs are addressed effectively.
Alex's mum, Alison in her own words:
After Alex had meningitis and septicaemia, life was different for all the family. When the time came for Alex to start secondary school we were all very apprehensive. Alex had lots of special needs that would need addressing when we looked around Egerton Park we were really pleased, and could see that his needs would be met. Alex hates his new disabilities and wanted to know that everything was already in place to accommodate him, and not specially adapted.
At Egerton Park children with and without special needs learn alongside each other. Every classroom has low tables for wheelchair users, low cooking facilities and work benches so all activities are available to all. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists are all on hand to assist when needed.
The school aims to make pupils as independent as possible and they have given Alex a new lease of life. As parents we would recommend that others in out situation follow the needs of their child, and request that they can access such facilities as those at Egerton Park, who are fantastic with every special child. Alex is now playing wheelchair basketball for the under 15s North West team, there is life after meningitis!
Liz Ellison (Learning Support Manager Egerton Park Arts College)
As Learning Support Manager at Egerton Park Arts College Liz Ellison is the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) for the school. Egerton Park became a specialist college in 1999 and is acknowledged by the government for providing higher standards and increasing diversity and innovation. The school has a centre for students with special needs, and has facilities for the physically disabled, including lifts, toilets, and 2 full time support assistants.
In this clip Liz Ellison explains Alex’s special needs in school and how they have helped him settle into his new environment.
If you are the SENCO for your school or if you are working with a child who has special needs as a result of meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia, please contact our 24 Hour Nurse-led Helpline 0800 028 18 28. We can provide information about the after-effects of the disease and the services we provide to help individuals and their families.
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