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Special Edition
by marcel, 14 Welcome to the second issue of Special Edition, the Exposure supplement for young people with special needs. The words ‘special needs’ cover all sorts of problems that affect the way people learn, communicate and behave. A group of young people with special needs may all have very different problems that affect them in may different ways, so like everybody else, they are all very different people. In this issue young people talk about their lives, what they like doing, and their futures, and we catch up with the young people who contributed to the last issue to find out how they felt about seeing their work published.
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proud to be in print!
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It’s a fantastic feeling seeing my work in a magazine. People said, ‘Ali, you’re in a magazine!’ I feel proud of myself. In my article I talked about wanting to be a motorbike rider when I’m older. Seeing those words in the magazine made it real.
By Ali, 14
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My parents were happy to see my pictures. I feel happy. They said, ‘You are in a magazine, we’re so proud’. My friends said, ‘Look there’s a magazine with us in it’. I like looking at the picture of me with a snake around my neck.
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By Jason, 15
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My mum saw it and was happy. I was so happy to see my article.
I read my article when I went to Number 10, the Youth Club in Bruce Grove. I had to think about who to show it to.
By Yasmin, 14
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By Marcel, 14
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I felt like I was very open to tell people my experiences. My mother hasn’t seen my article yet. She has a big, big heart. I have two friends in france who are very sweet. I will tell them to read my work on the Exposure website. I love to meet new friends and share problems with them.
By Mirela, 19
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I wish Samantha was here. I don’t feel right having my photo taken without her because we’re best friends and our article was about us both.
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By Sarah, 15
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extra special sisters! I have a sister, Susanna, who is 16 years old and has a rare chromosome disorder. Her special needs mean to me that she is extra special in every way. I normally try to talk to my sister and she likes to do a lot of the stuff I do, like going to the cinema and shopping. She also really likes watching films and wearing make-up. Whenever I do my make-up, I try to involve her as much as I can by sharing my make-up with her. Susanna is a big fan of music and has loads of CDs in her room and listens to them 24/7. I feel that after my 13 years of living I have grown into looking after kids and may even work with kids when I’m older. Sometimes I imagine having a sister who isn’t affected by special needs so I could go out more with her and she could look after me, not the other way around. I have had to grow up quicker as I am kind of the oldest. Sometimes I feel ok about Susanna being the way she is because I can’t change anything, but sometimes I get upset wishing she had no special needs. I try and spend a lot of time with my sister and not leave her out. I love my sister as she is most special.
by gaby, 14 illustrations by dane brown
gaby
music & me susanna
I am Susanna. I am 16. I go to a very special school. The school is for children with special needs. I love it there. I’ve got lots of friends. I do lots of activities at school. I enjoy doing creative things like Art and Music. I love Computers too. When I’m at home I listen to music. I love The Spice Girls. I love Hairspray songs. I also love High School Musical songs and Grease songs. I love to sing and dance. I like to relax and watch good films (mostly musicals). I spend lots of time with my family. I love my little sister and little brother.
by susanna, 16
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favourite things I like using computers. I like doing art and going to school. I love drawing. In my picture I have drawn leaves, a heart and a light because they are my favourite things.
by sharon, 18 sharon
college
life
I am studying computing, like learning how to type. Sometimes we play board games at college and sometimes we do drama. My favourite thing at college is watching DVDs. I like films that make me laugh. I love High School Musical. Sometimes people at college don’t talk to me. I just get on with things and try to ignore them. When I ask them, ‘Are you my friend?’, they shake their head and walk away. I don’t understand why they do that. When I am older, I want to work in a CD shop because I love music.
by antonia, 20 antonia
my cool story This is my story of being an avenger of my dead clan because my brother kills all of them. I study very well to be so strong. All the girls want me and all the boys want to be like me because I am the top student in the ninja academy. Ever since I was a kid I knew the situation of a dojo student. My life was learning how to become a cool genius like Sasuke Uchiha. I started to name my mates, by giving them codenames like Blader, Shadow the Hedgehog and Darker X-Ray. I had an accident at the lab when broken glass hit my arm. When I went to my room I felt swollen. Then I got better and learnt some new skills.
by yasmin, 14 (code name: snake skechers)
P.S. These are some bags I designed.
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illustration by mirela
my life & my future In the future, I see myself being a beauty therapist. I would also like to learn about reflexology and massage. I would like to work for a big company. It is important to me to take care of how I look, like my personal appearance. Usually I only use natural creams for my face. I always like to be very clean and to wear smart clothes. If I am working as a beauty therapist, the way I look is like an advertisement for future clients: my looks attract people and they will ask me to do their treatment. I have almost finished Stage 1 of my course in beauty therapy and I will progress to Stage 2 which is a bit harder. I’m very grateful to a lot of people who are helping me develop, especially Dexter at Bruce Grove Youth Centre. If I have a problem, Dexter explains things to me and helps me find solutions. I carry people that I love in my mind and in my heart. When I was living in Romania, I had good friends and I will never forget them. From the age of three, I was living in a wonderful orphanage in Romania. I had the best time there and everyone treated me well. When I went to the next orphanage at 17, they treated me like a dog. They were cruel to me.
I feel happy and safe in London and I love the staff at Bruce Grove Youth Centre, especially Faith and Dexter. I also like Mirella from Exposure who has the same name as me. These people are understanding. Dexter has given me so much confidence and has been like a father to me. Before I met him, I was scared but now I feel safe. Thank you so much for believing in me.
by mirela, 19
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flower power I like going to Bruce Grove Youth Centre every week. I do drawings, meet friends and listen to music. I feel happy there. My best friend, Antonia comes too. The rest of the time I stay at home. I love watching TV like EastEnders and The Bill. I live with my mum, dad and six brothers and sisters. I am the oldest. It feels good being the oldest. I take my brothers and sisters to the park sometimes. We’ve got a big house. I was going to Tottenham College and doing a flower arrangement course. I remember I made my mum a clay flower to show my feelings of love for her because she looks after me. She looks after all of us. I’ve got three more years left of my course and then I want to study childcare because I want to be a childminder. Flowers are my favourite things, especially daffodils. I feel excited about seeing me and my flowers in Exposure magazine. I am scared about getting stabbed because stabbings happen alot. The other day a group of people tried stabbing me at the bus stop. I am really upset children haven’t got any food in Africa. If I could, I would send them my food.
by leanne, 20 antonia & leanne (best friends) illustration by missi
flowers by leanne
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by ali, 14
This booklet was produced by young people at Bruce Grove Youth Centre and Exposure, Haringey's award-winning youth media charity. It was paid for by Awards For All. The following young people took part in this project: Ali Ahmed Antonia Ellis Gabriella Camerota Dane Brown Jason Talbert Leanne Bushell Marcel Fearon Mirela Confederat Sharon Adokorah Susanna Camerota Yasmin Hassa