college accomodations

does anyone in college have accomodations for their disorders? I do not know if I should pursue accomodations... I have ADHD, OCD, and am going to be tested for dyslexia next week. Will this qualify?

Generally the only accommodations colleges have are for physical disability and military members/veterans. I looked into that when I was first diagnosed and there are no accommodations for me.

really? all the websites I have looked at say that they have programs for students with mental or learning disabilites as well... especialy if you applied for accomodations for the SAT or ACT...?

My university doesn't mention the accommodations; you have to find out for yourself. Basically my counsellor will write letters at the beginning of term to my professors, and then they will make the accommodations necessary (for me, more time to finish papers and assignments).

From what I've heard, though, many colleges in the States have an office for students with disabilities. I suggest you check with them and/or the college's counselling centre to see what accommodations can be made. I know that there are people on PC that have such arrangements; they'll be able to tell you more.

I think it depends on where in the US you are. I went to a state school in New England, and they had an entire office for mental disabilities, including depression, bipolar, etc. Not just learning disabilities. They were very helpful. My therapist or pdoc would send them letters, and in turn, they would contact my professors with the accommodations I needed. They also would have me meet with them a few times during the semester to see how I was doing and if I needed any changes.

Now I'm taking classes at a school in the midwest, and I'm finding they aren't quite there yet with mental health accommodations. I don't know if I actually went and talked to someone if they'd be able to help me out more since I"ve only looked online. But I have found that my professors have all been very helpful. I let them know the minute I start to struggle and they've been very, very good about working with me. Most professors will give extensions for assignments if you get in touch with them at least a few days before it's due.

I think it is definitely worth talking to someone about. Besides, it never hurts to ask and they might have other ideas or options you don't know about or havent thought of. Good luck!

Universities and colleges in Canada have a service for students with physical, psychiatric and/or learning disabilities. American universities provide this service too.

Many universities have a website for their disability service. I have visited some American university websites and found them quite helpful.

At my university, a student has to register for the service. They are assigned a coordinator who determines and sets up the accommodations based on the type of disability or disabilities the student has. Some accommodations are: writing tests using assistive technology, use of a scribe, extra time for tests, and writing in a quiet location. They also provide help with learning strategies and counselling.

I use the service and find it very helpful.

Alright, alright, alright. So yesterday I went to disability resources to see what kind of accommodations my school has. They have an application to fill out and they give a list of things you can request. You can request:

Accessible Furniture (wheelchairs, etc.)
Adapted Physical Education
Adapted Technology
Alternate Media/E-text
Mobility Class Assistant
Note-taking
Sign Language Interpeting and Real-Time Captioning
Testing Accomodations
Vocational Counseling
Other:
(College does not provide personal assistants)

As bipolar, I can't see anything that would be useful to me.

I think for ADD, it would be helpful for you to request Note-Taking and Testing Accomodations. With testing accommodations, I think they will let you take longer to complete tests.

Hope this helps!

It really varies from school to school. My school did a very personalized assessment, asking me what I thought was needed, and worked to make that happen. Your list also includes a space for "other" which, I'm assuming, means you can request things not on the list. For me, extended deadlines on assignments and extra excused absences was very helpful while I was trying to deal with my depression and anxiety. I'm sure if you thought of something that would be helpful, they would be willing to meet with you and discuss it. They might not be able or willing to make that happen, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't then bring it up with each professor individually to see if that professor would be willing to work with you. Most professors want their students to succeed and are willing to go great lengths to make that happen if they see you are genuinely trying. Another common accommodation I've seen is fewer credits for full time status. Also, test accommodations can mean taking tests by yourself, having more time, or sometimes using a computer to take tests.

I receive accommodations. I have bipolar and some ADHD symptoms. I am given extra time for exams and take them in a semi-isolated area with fewer distractions. I receive professor PowerPoint notes, if they are not posted online. There are some accommodations I can access, but am not doing so at the moment. 60% course load is considered full-time for loans and student association benefits such as gym membership and health and dental insurance. I am considered full-time at 40%. Although I am not using it at the moment, I've used it in the past. I used an academic strategist and learning skills strategist and will probably do so in the future. One of the big things for me is knowing that if I relapse, and have a severe episode of depression, they will advocate for me. I may drop a course, or lose a semester, but I will not give up this chance at a degree.

I have to say that I am working on the same issue. My professor even asked what was wrong with me, that I seem a little "off". I was going through a little depressive episode that I knew would pass in a few days.

Also, stress can trigger memory and bipolar issues. I am struggling to stay in school with a C average and I am really trying.

My courses are excellorated which doesn't help. I have a test tomorrow and I am only half done studying. I said that I would never give up, and now I am debating with myself as to wether to continue with school if I fail this test.

I also have two pdocs... psyciatrist and a therapist. PDOC says don't need to tell school, and my therapist who says I do.

If I fail this test, I will inform my professors and go from there. I am really tired of jumping through hoops (2 major tests within the same week and 4 projects due on the same day).

Sometimes I feel like not studying for this test because I am so tired and upset, but I'm just going to go over the rest of my chapters before I go to school.

Wish me luck.

I would say you don't need to tell the school, but it can help to do so.

I would go to whatever school you attend/want to attend, to their study and counselling centers and look into what and how they help others out. For learning disabilities I think they mostly have added counselling help, tutors, people to review your papers and help you, that sort of thing. Sometimes I know they will have someone read the lectures aloud for you or a note taker, depending on one's disability (I can see this for bad dyslexia; as if you are blind). One has to pay a bit extra for some things sometimes, depends on what you want, need, they are able to help provide.

I don't know if I would go it alone until I get too frustrated/flunk or otherwise have a problem; that's kind of like closing the barn doors after the horses are gone. I too think schools vary so you might want to visit a few and see which have the best accommodations?

I'm not sure where you are located, but here where I am -I went to student services who then sent me on to what we have is called the Learning Center.. there I was given an advisor who would help me with anything I needed. She needed a letter from my Psychiatrist stating what difficulties I have and what would be beneficial in his own opinion for me to achieve great success in this College.

Now, I have NVLD, Cyclothymia, Borderline Personality Disorder, Features of Autism, and one more I can never remember... so my T suggested I have extra time for written exams, as well as a distraction reduced environment to write in. I got both of these - as well he suggested that I could benefit from a program that would read my textbooks to me so I got that but found I never used it. The program would also read all tests and anything else that was scanned into it to me.
At my college once you have your accommodations set up, we just advise our teachers that we have accommodations, what they are, and fill out a form prior to the test date and everything is set up for us.

I hope you can get some accommodations to help you..

I'm also coming from Canada so experience may vary to where you are (sorry )

For me, academic accommodations from Counselling and Disability Services have been GREAT help as I've gone through college and university. I would start with just introducing yourself to what is availiable and get an assessment of your strengths. It IS really easy to feel hopeless with your diagnosis' and wonder where to start. But I have found the staff at this department ARE willing to help. Also the vast majority of supports provided are free = covered under the "fees" you pay alongside the courses...At the very least, testing accomodations = extra time for tests and exams = more time to work through your strategies to focus to actually do the work necessary

hope it all works out