Her mother, Angela Dennis, said 13-year-old Amber has had the condition since birth.

“At times it’s been very hard but because Amber’s such a happy child and she’s got an older sister, Lona-May, and she’s also at school here in year 11, Amber has been well settled. Because we have always had such a good family she has always had good support,” Angela said.

“Has difficulty with speech all facets of using her muscles, difficulty in walking and talking, she has a communication device, which helps her with talking and she has an ipad to help her with schoolwork and communication.”

Angela is very pleased to see her daughter take to high school so well.

“I thought it would be daunting but she’s actually transitioned really, really well and the school’s been fantastic. I’ve been really lucky actually. It’s a big relief, she’s done really well and she’s enjoying it,” Angela said.

“The school has supplied ramps and lifts to most of the areas in the school and Amber’s able to access all the classrooms that she needs to at this point, but as the years go on they’re going to put in another couple of lifts so that she can access all areas…they’ve been very supportive and I can’t complain.

“She’s a very social little girl and she enjoys life and tries hard at just about anything she does, at this stage I think she will be a very happy, active member of society. She’s not at all disillusioned by her inability to do things.”

Angela said technologically Amber’s very savvy.

“She’s more intelligent than I am with things like that,” Angela said. “She’s particularly good at maths and academically she’s really come a long way this year, she has really improved.”

Amber also likes science and music and she is very good on a keyboard, but it does not take long to realise that the usual young, teen mischief is alive and well too. “It’s good to be in High School,” she said.

“I love coming to high school because I’m making new friends and I like the lessons. And I like to chase the magpies.”

Eh? Chase the what?

Both Angela and Amber’s carer, Amanda Dean, laughed.

“We have a walking and talking program out on the oval,” Amanda explained.

“So while we’re out there we chase the magpies.

“We’ll have to stop that soon because the magpies might start to chase us, with swooping season coming up, won’t we Amber?”

Amber laughed then said,

“I’m a bit nervous about it then, Sean was hit with one that time.”

Sean is Amber’s cousin and he was attacked by a swooping magpie about four years ago and Angela was surprised Amber even remembered it happening.

Amber is already giving back to the school too.

She recently updated her electric wheelchair to a larger model and generously donated her old one to the Industrial Arts (IA) section at Inverell High.

“Firstly it will help students understand what it’s like to get around this school in a wheelchair,” IA teacher Glen Partridge said.

“We can also have a look at it from a mechanical and electronics point of view.

“Because it is operational we’ll be able to see how it works and classes will be able to see how it all comes together, we can look at maintenance and things like that.”

Angela said Amber’s new adventure has been made possible by many people, and also the Department of Education, which installed the ramps and lifts for her daughter prior to her arrival.

Inverell High School principal, Dr Karen Roberts said nearly every building is now ramped.

“With the lifts we can access pretty much every building to the top floor and the toilets and shower areas are also for disabled access,” Mrs Roberts said.

“The work was completed earlier this year because we knew Amber was coming last year so from about halfway through last year until February this year, it took them all that time to get the works done.

“They did do that very quickly but they do when there’s a need.

“The school didn’t pay for it, I have no idea what the cost would be but that’s what they do for students who have special needs.

“The government consider that integrating special needs students is what public education is all about.

“So the fact that Amber’s parents wanted her to come here (means) the department just does what’s needed,” Dr Roberts said.