Throughout Karen's life, I have usually learnt the most useful pieces of information by word of mouth usually from other parents but also from voluntary organizations and unexpected sources. Also many things have happened by chance. We had probably assumed early on that Karen would eventually move to some sort of community, where she would be safe, occupied and receiving specialist help. However, as time went on, we learned more. When visiting the annual Special Educational Needs exhibition, I learned that Mencap had two residential colleges offering courses for people with similar disabilities. We also realized that village communities were not the solution as we wanted Karen to be included into the community as much as possible and Karen wants to be near shops, swimming pools and activities. 
Then by chance after a governor's meeting at the primary school Elizabeth and Andrew attended, I had a very important conversation with a fellow governor. Paula Eaton had taught Karen's sister Elizabeth between the ages of nearly five up to six and half. She had later left the mainstream primary school to work in a school for physically disabled children. She asked about Karen and then told me about NATSPEC, an organization of specialist colleges which sets standards for these colleges, regulates and monitors them and produces a prospectus over 40 colleges. She kindly lent me her precious copy and I phoned up the address and got my own copy. 
We phoned up five colleges which looked as if they would be suitable and then visited some of them. We also decided that it would be a good idea for Karen to start the September after her eighteenth birthday rather than stay on at school until she was 19. Her sister had gone to college when she was 18 and Karen had visited her at Oxford several times and got used to the idea of her sister being away for weeks at a time. From the point of view of funding, there were also advantages to applying while Karen was still of school age. Finally, she had been at QEII now since she was 2, 3 years part time and 12 years full time. We all decided that we liked Derwen the best.  We were impressed by the variety and quality of the
courses offered and the very good care the staff offered. Karen was
impressed by the indoor heated swimming pool, the nice dormitories and the
friendly staff. We then waited to hear first that the college had accepted
her and then we had a very long wait to confirm that she would be funded
by the Further Education Funding Council. It was very different from
getting a university grant or a student loan but finally in the summer it
was confirmed that she could start in September 1997.
Gordon took her to college by train and settled her in and came back the same day. Andrew was at school so we could not both go. At first Karen was homesick but this only lasted about a week and she quickly made new friends, found that she enjoyed the work but also that she could be a real college student not a schoolgirl and spend her evenings in the concert hall, the big hall with snooker, table tennis, soft drinks bar but above all the jukebox. 
Here, in Karen's own words, is her description of college written in Spring 2000 Monday I have Practical Skills with my friend, Katie. I make candles. I make dipped candles and moulded candles. That takes all morning. Then we have lunch  |
