I very quickly discover that there is no lift and that the
only option of getting to the 2nd floor not via the stairs was to go
outside and round the building to the other side. After my last visit I needed
to get to that road just behind the building but chose to go a long way round
as the first bit is so steep. It is not a very useful option. Imagine a lane
that starts at the side of the building at ground level and wraps round the
building to the second floor – plus about 5/6 steps, maybe you get the idea. I
have been told that I can enter there to start with, a flat walk [and 5/6
steps] from the high street – knock and hopefully someone will answer. Stairs are ok but never done without thinking
and sometimes quite painful – when my lower back is off steep slopes are
difficult. I do things because I have to. There is fortunately a toilet for someone
of my gender on that floor. So: the no steps entrance is on the ground floor as
is the photocopier, reception and the accessible toilets. The interview space
where I first went is on the first floor, the IT room on the second floor.
After a fiddle, a chair was found for me that I could adjust
to a suitable height. They don’t seem to have wrist rests available. We were
shown how to log into the programme that we will use. We looked at job
categories – if I’d written down the website as well as my log in details I
would be more accurate at explaining the job categories. It was suggested that
we picked 3 possible areas including one that ended “machine operatives” – I
said surely that is physical work, and was told there might be jobs in that area
that I hadn’t thought about.
Being on ESA I don’t have to apply for jobs but I do
need to do work based activities.
There was a place to put CVs I wasn’t sure if that was just
for me to access or for staff as well, I only asked why was it/ was it
necessary – I had one of my inarticulate moments...garble garble [my think
speak capacity can be affected as can my listen comprehend, reading and writing
seem ok]. I established that I could access my CV via email of online documents
and as I wasn’t required to apply for jobs I didn’t have to have it in my online
details.
Then came the tests in Maths and English. She said that they
would adjust to ability so we would probably all take different times. I made
some stupid mistakes in English and it didn’t take too long. The maths went on
and on, I knew how to work out the volume of a cylinder, but due to a slightly
woozy day just couldn’t pin down the noughts that were coming up so skipped
that. Anyway 2 of the others finished well before me. My results were both
Level 2: GCSE grades a – c. Yes that was my maths level when I took O levels – yes I’m
that old. I’d need coaching to get it up to scratch I reckon, there’s lots I
wouldn’t be able to do - I didn’t understand all the terms for statistics on
this test. So actually I think I’m under that score for maths. But the English,
bloody hell! I have 3 O levels – language, literature, general literature; Use
of English [sort of A level English Language] and A level English, not to
mention the MA, the creation of academic writing and creative writing – and
having taught contextual studies to first year degree students. How on earth
did I do so badly?
Our maths and English result print outs are kept in a locked
cabinet but our personal folders including user name and log-on are kept in an
open filing cabinet for all to access. Hmm
I remembered to give them my new email address, but forgot
about travel from the last visit and this one, also I forgot to hand in my
completed data protection form. Even using a double folder with sort of in out
tray system I forgot.
I left still not entirely sure what I will do on the visits
there and what I will report on during the phone calls. Perhaps list the art listings
that I’ve looked at, my grappling with a proposal and failing!
Future: I usually go away with my parents in the autumn for
3 or 4 weeks...I really can’t look after the house alone – coal and wood fire
in a stone house, aside from no transport. What will happen?