Hi AaHaA,

I haven't applied for a job as of yet as I am still in high school (i'm 14) however I did go to an interview a few months ago for an Health and Social Care Course at College.

At the time of the interview, my arm was REALLY swelt up and bruised as I had injured it and developed a spread of the chronic pain condition, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which is pretty similar to MS in many ways. I tried my best to 'hide' the swelling but it was really hard seeing as my arm was in a bandage and I had to have someone write for me.

The interview went well at first and the tutor was really nice until she saw the state of my arm. She then started moaning and kept asking me whether I would be OK on the course and be able to cope with it as it can be pretty demanding. She also kept saying that it would be really hard for them to get Placements for me in the health care field because of my illness as I could pose a 'risk' to them.

I told the tutor that I knew it would be really hard but that it was something I wanted to do and would be willing to give it my all. The tutor told us all to go home and called us back about a week later.

She called my mum and kept moaning about my illness and saying that I wouldn't be able to cope with the course etc etc. The tutor was a nurse and thought that she knew all about what was wrong with me, even though she had NEVER seen it before in her whole carer!!!

The law in the UK states that employers MUST provide suitable support for someone that suffers from a disability and that they have to do everything to try and support them.

My mum read on the college website a link saying that they HAD to offer someone with a disability a place on the course as it is the law so told the tutor that.

The tutor still kept going on about how demanding the course was even though my mum told her that my doctor said it was OK for me to do it as it isn't that hands on and most of the work is in the classroom apart from the placements.

None of the teachers on the course would give us an answer as to whether I had a place on the course so my mum pratically had to beg them for an answer. Eventually they said that I could have a place but that I had to carefully consider it. I gave them an answer and told them that I wanted to do the course so will start it in September. It lasts 2 years and I know it will be hard but it is something I really want to do.

It's SO frustrating that so many people have to deal with all of this and can't get a job due to an ilness. The law states that you shouldn't discriminate against people with a disability but yet most employers do!!!

Sorry that you had to deal with all of that but I am SO very glad you got offered a place on the course - that is great news!!!!! I really hope everythings goes well for you and please keep us posted!