starting university (back to school, college)

i thought that this would be a good time to write a post about going to uni or back to uni, school college or work as i have seen a couple of other posts about on social media other people blogs or youtube channels especially with university as it is the most fresh in my memory as i have recently finished my degree Graduating with a 2.2 and that many people are probably starting very soon.

first off independant living for many people who are going to university this will be the first time that you will be living on your own to an extent (most likely to have house/flatmates) and in control of every aspect of your life and for me when i started uni it was like this but i also found that setting a routine which i have mentioned previously helped me when i had sunday as my cleaning day and that stayed like that for most of my first year.
another couple of tips for the very beginning of university especially if your staying in halls of residence is to get there quite early so that its less busy and you will be able to find your way around the halls find out how to get to your university and explore the area a little bit and a bonus the fridge/freezer and cupboards in the kitchen are not likely to be full so you can find the space for all your food to go easily and that way it will probably be easier to keep everything organised and tidy.

when it comes to actually starting University (this may also apply to starting a new school as well) there will likely be people around the University to help you with finding where it is that you need to go and those people are probably going to be there for at least the first week or two although if you are worried about not being able to find your way to lectures give yourself time and go a little bit early or if you have a finalized timetable before your lectures start then you can go to the university and find your way around so that you know where you are going when you do start also at this time you could find the disability support people within your university if its the same as mine you will probably have to go there with some student finance documents if you know that you are entitled to get help through DSA (disabled students allowance) but they should also be able to help with getting DSA if you are entitled to it but have not yet received it as well as potentially being able to help you get a diagnosis of dyspraxia or other neurodiverse conditions if you feel that you may have them and have not yet got a diagnosis (there are quite a lot of people with dyspraxia that got their diagnosis whilst at university)

the social aspect of going to university this is the part of uni that i think there are quite a few people not just those with dyspraxia (and not all dyspraxics) aren't as comfortable with because in this sense it is often nights out partying and drinking lots of alcohol and from my very minimal experience these environments are often loud, crowded and either very dark or very bright or a mix of both but to get to the point you do NOT have to go partying, clubbing etc. if you do not want to, i almost never went to the nightclubs or anything like that the only couple of times i did was with the uni handball team that i played for (to be honest that sort of thing definitely not for me) but this also bring me onto another way of meeting new people and being sociable which is the opportunities to join sports clubs or societies there may even be a society for people with learning difficulties at some universities but you should be able to see this at freshers/sports fayre before the start of uni where all of the societies and sports clubs are likely to be so you will have the oppurtunity to talk to people already involved and may even find a new thing that you may enjoy and that way you will know that the people you meet are also interested in the same things as you

and lastly if you are thinking about attending uni and your original diagnosis of dyspraxia was before the age of 16 you will need to get another diagnosis to be able to get the DSA so you have the required provisions whilst at uni.

also you can check out some other info about uni, work, school and college from others
 Rosie's blog http://thinkoutsideofthecardboardbox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/new-academic-year-new-beginnings.html
and Krystal's video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYT0a0-f5iM

also i have just created a facebook page so that it is easier for people to follow my blog posts here https://www.facebook.com/dyspraxiactivist?ref=aymt_homepage_panel so please go and like it thank you

and as usual finishing with detail from the cycle challenge i did a couple of months ago and the justgiving page will probably stay up for a little while https://www.justgiving.com/Eben-Fletcher/, and i should probably continue to mention all those companies that supported the challenge atleast for the next few posts

i hope i have not forgotten anyone

http://www.cyclesuk.com/ specifically there maidstone store providing me with disount on equipment etc and great customer service (also i believe the first company to support me)
Sheppey FM http://sheppeyfm.org.uk/ local radio station that helped publicise the ride
http://www.endurasport.com/ cycling clothing 
http://www.jenwoods.co.uk/ a local printers in Swale,Kent
http://www.hlgraphics.co.uk/
and chek out these hotels, B&B's etc. if you are thinking of going on holiday in any of these area's
http://www.irondukebrighton.co.uk/ in brighton 
http://www.swallowsrestselfcatering.co.uk/ in weymouth
http://www.torbaycourthotel.com/index.php in or very near Torquay
http://www.parkhotelpreston.co.uk/  in Preston
http://www.etruriatownhouse.com/ in Kilmarnock
http://www.thebridgehotelscunthorpe.co.uk/ in Scunthorpe
http://johnogroatsbnb.com/ in John O'Groats
http://www.the-beeches.co.uk/home  in Bristol
http://www.dornochcastlehotel.com/contact/location/  in the Dornoch/ Bonar Bridge area
http://www.rezarefarmhouse.co.uk/ in Rezare, Launceston, Cornwall close to Tavistock
http://www.lionandpheasant.co.uk/ in Shrewsbury
http://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/ in Inverary, Scotland
http://www.scottishguesthouse.com/contact-pitlochry-guest-house.html in Pitlochry
http://www.albahillsguesthouseedinburgh.com/ in Edinburgh
http://www.trapinn.co.uk/newtrap/ in Alnwick
and finally in hitchin where the dyspraxia foundation are based http://chartridgevenues.com/hitchin-priory/ 
also thank you to the two universities that allowed and were going to allow me to use room in student accomodation http://www.solent.ac.uk/home.aspx (my old uni) and https://www.dur.ac.uk/ and i also forgot to mention ther place where we had our emergency stop which was the ivydene guesthouse  http://www.bedbreakfastcornwall.com/west-cornwall/helston/ivydene-guest-house/ which was very nice