Working w/school on disability accomodat
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Working w/school on disability accomodat
| Sat, 01-08-2005 - 1:40pm |
I know at least one of our members (maybe more) has been down this route.
| Sat, 01-08-2005 - 1:40pm |
I know at least one of our members (maybe more) has been down this route.
Please can someone help me out here? Anything? I'm so nervous about this process.
On another note, I have read all your posts today but really don't know what to say. I guess I'm not very wise today. Just want to let you know that I'm "listening" and have hugs for everyone. If i somehow find some words of wisdom I'll post again.
So if someone has ANY info about school disability accomodations I could really use anything you can tell me.
Amanda/Schitz
Amanda/S,
I'm so sorry. I have nothing! I can only send hugs, luck and love vibes you way.
Love,
Jamie
Love,
Amanda, I know this is an anxious situation for you and I wish I could help you out with this. I know what it feels like to reach out and not get any info and it can be discouraging. Please hang in there and know my prayers are with you. Have you been able to call your school to see if someone could explain how this process goes? I have been to college before and I know my college offered the disabilty accomodations but I never took advantage of it. Please let us know how you make out and I would call the school to see if someone there could help you with your anxieties about this and give you some information. Hang in there, hon.
Tina~
Hi Amanda,
I've been done this road and I'm doing it again right now. Except it's been an absolute pain for me because my university has as much red tape as the government, if not more. I hope it goes better for you. Don't wait to fail a class before you go for help and it should be okay.
1. Do Research. I have found that when I go in for an appointment it feels like I'm expected to know what needs to be done. I felt better prepared when I had done some research online and found out what types of accommodations can fairly be made. Try to be able to put into words why you're coming to them for help.
2. Ask Questions. I was asked, what do you want us to do for you, and that made me want to scream. I'd never done it before, why were they asking me? So, be blunt and say, I'm having trouble and so and so but don't know exactly what I need. Do you have any suggestions?
3. Talk to Your Counselor. Whoever you see most often about your bipolar disorder, let them know what you're trying to accomplish. They may be able to help with the process. At any rate, they will likely be called on to document your disability.
4. Be persistent. These things will take time. Who knows, maybe it will be quicker for you, but I am at a large university with 30,000 plus students and it feels like I'm just a number. People don't care about numbers. Make yourself a face to the powers that be.
I'm not sure what you were looking for. If I didn't answer your questions, the post again and I'll be sure to try and be coherent.
~Beth Anne
Beth Ann,
Thanks for the reply (and thanks to everyone else who replied).
I spoke to someone in one of my classes today that has accomodations. I recognized the letter from the CSD that she was giving to the prof. I asked her what I should expect at my initial appointment and what I need in the letter from my doc. She said that they need to know the problem and what kind of accomodations you need and they'll ask for the documentation from the doctor. She said that they went through the possible accomodations with her and decided together what she needed. I hope it goes that way for me too.
I have looked up on the internet about accomodations so I have a bit of an idea of some of what can be done. I am in my 4th year there and never knew that I could get disability accommodations and what they could possibly do to help. Unfortunately I have failed courses, 6 actually. I just didn't know before what could be done. I also have an idea of specific accommodations I would like because of a current course, but I don't know what future accommodations I might need. I did try to make a list of functional limitations and possible solutions. I'll take that to the appointment, although they can do nothing until I get documentation and that won't be until after the 20th. The specific things that I need because of the last episode, and which brought me into this process is, I'm in a full year course and have failed the first half. I have a different prof this semester who I know and like and trust and had already told about being bipolar. She suggested trying to get permission to submit my essay that was supposed to be for last semester (and I didn't finish and hand in because I hit a severe depression and couldn't even bring myself to get out of bed). I also asked if she'd be willing to accept weekly assignments instead of going to tutorial because I went once and had a panic attack and never went back. There were just too many people in too small a classroom. She said that's okay, again if I get the permission of the associate dean's office. I already had an appointment there and she said I need to see the CSD and get the documentation from my doctor.
I am doing things backwards! I should have tried to get an earlier appt with my doc, then seen the CSD with the documentation in hand, then the assoc dean's office. Now it looks like I'll probably have to see my doc twice and then the CSD again after that and then the assoc dean after that.
As far as talking to my counsellor, that is not an option. I am not seeing anyone right now. I only see my family doc. I tried to get into the mental health clinic (and have had my intake interview and been put on the waiting list) but that won't happen for at least another 6 months.
I am also at a large university. (I think when I applied in highschool it was classified as medium, but with the double cohort enrollment has skyrocketed. I guess you probably don't know what the double cohort is. A couple years ago they got rid of OAC (grade 13) so there were kids in grade 12 of the new program and grade 13 of the old program all entering university at the same time). "Hi nice to meet you, I'm 0160520" lol. I know that I'm going to have to be persistant and it's going to be a long process, as you can tell by the appointments I'm pretty sure that I'll have to go through. At first it was exhausting just to think about it but I'm trying not to worry right now and only dealing with each appointment as they come.
Yes you did answer my question. Thank you very much. If you have anything to add feel free and thanks again.
Amanda/Schitz
Thanks for the reply.
I hope that things go as smoothly for me.
I'm trying to be as prepared as possible before Friday's appointment, hopefully to reduce anxiety and to do my part to make things as smooth as possible.
I'm still open to suggestions and experiences, and I'll let you all know how Friday's appointment goes.
Amanda/Schitz