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Disabled Blaine defies the odds to make the grade
A blind teenager who doctors said may never walk or talk has passed his exams with flying colours.
Blaine McQuillan was born with the rare Norries Syndrome and is blind, has severe autism, epilepsy and physical disabilities, which means he needs special ankle supports to allow him to walk.
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But, the amazing 16-year-old Sunderland lad, who only learned to read and write using Braille last year, has astounded everyone by passing his entry level maths, English and science.
The Barbara Priestman schoolboy, who lives in Hastings Hill with his mum, Julie Taylor, sat the exams using Braille and specialised computer equipment.
Julie, 44, who works for a dry cleaning company, said: "I am so immensely proud of him. To other people the achievement might seem like nothing much, but for Blaine it is like he has climbed Mount Everest.
"When you have a child with special needs you just get told what they won't be able to do, but this proves how much they can do"
The single mum underwent fertility treatment for seven years before falling pregnant with Blaine and was devastated when at 20 hours old he was diagnosed with the genetic condition.
Julie said doctors told her Blaine would never really be able to do anything for himself and even doubted he would ever walk or talk.
She said: "But, I saw ability in him and have put my all into getting the best out of him. He began Barbara Priestman school and the staff there are fantastic.
Alan Carrick, headteacher at the Meadowside school, which caters for young people with physical disabilities and complex needs, said Blaine's achievement is amazing.
He said: "It is so impressive. He has overcome the most mountainous of special needs to achieve these qualifications."
Two other outstanding youngsters from the school are Christoper Jackson and Ashley Boiston, who both gained GCSE grade C in science, despite only studying the subject for six months.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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