Phoebe’s story – The importance of different ways to access education
Due to my chronic pain condition I have been unable to fully access full time school for 3 years. This academic year has become particularly stressful for me as I entered Yr 10 and started studying for my GCSE’s.
School tried to be supportive, but lessons posted online where often the slides teachers referred to in lessons made no sense to me, or else teachers forgot to post them, which then made me stress about falling behind and increased my pain.
I was wanting to engage in lessons but this style of learning wasn’t suitable and I was becoming frustrated and disengaged in my learning.
A few members of staff tried to do a live lesson link for me to watch. This was a slight improvement but I couldn’t always see the screen, there were connection issues and I still couldn’t interact, just observe.
As the time went on my anxiety and frustration rose at the lack of access to my lessons. Then my Mum mentioned the AV Robot as she’s a teacher and was aware of them being successfully used in other boroughs. I was excited and a little apprehensive at the thought of it so we approached Hall Mead to ask if they could investigate the possibility of getting one.
After several emails going back and forth, my parents were informed that funding had been granted and they met with Maureen (CENMAC Advisory Teacher) who showed them the robot. My Mum said she got emotional as she knew this could change my ability to access my learning. I’m pleased to say she was right!
Before the AV Robot, school was very difficult for me, it was depressing being on my own and trying to access lesson at the same level as my friends. I found it virtually impossible to follow lessons and knew I was falling behind. All this stress amplified my pain and made me feel isolated, depressed and disengaged.
A few teachers kindly agreed to trial the robot in class and after seeing the success of lessons others are now using it too. It doesn’t add to their workload, they don’t have to email me links, post slides or do anything extra apart from turning the robot on!
I’ve now started to enjoy my lessons from home rather than dread them. They are easier to access, I just turn on my ipad and wait for school to turn on the robot.
The board can be clearly seen and as I can control the robot I can make it look around the room. It’s so much more inclusive.
I can change the colour of the robots head so teachers can answer my questions and best of all I can talk to my friends in class and join in group discussions, even if they do call me Robot Phoebe!
I feel really hopeful that the AV robot will help me achieve my GCSE’s and hopefully, if I am able to return to school at some point, the transition will be so much easier and smoother as I know I’ve been in the same lessons as everyone else.
I can’t thank you enough for providing me with an AV Robot. It’s made a huge improvement to my education, physical and mental health and is the closest I can get to actually being sat in a chair in class.
Thank you just doesn’t seem enough.
Phoebe
The AV1 robot sits in Phoebe’s place in the classroom. It allows her to access education, ask questions, join in discussion and talk with her classmates.