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Wandering_Stranger
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27 Sep 2012, 5:26 pm

I was told by uni this morning that I must write in my profile what help I need. Except, I don't know what help I need. Mainly due to not being assessed properly, therefore, my needs haven't been identified at all.

College are saying the same.

Uni (I am not going to college until next year) will not help at all with regards to obtaining a diagnosis because it's a medical issue.

I have received no support at all from community mental health team or my doctor. CMHT say it's up to social services to provide me with help. Doctor won't refer me to be assessed properly because apparently, I don't need it. she decided this after I talked for 5 minutes. :x

College want evidence. I have told them that I can email them the assessment done by uni a few years ago. This was before I was told I was on the spectrum and had hearing trouble.



Wandering_Stranger
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29 Sep 2012, 4:51 am

Anyone, please?



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29 Sep 2012, 5:19 pm

First of all my qualifications for saying this is that I'm a sociology grad student (MS level) studying the sociology of autism. I'm specifically studying autistic identity and how autistic people pass as neurotypical or how they have to pick up neurotypical traits in order to be accepted by society. I'm NT but many of my family and friends are on the autism spectrum. I have secondary experience as a person with a neurological disease (spinocerebellar ataxia, which is similar to ALS), so I've had to deal with this accommodation letter thing from universities for years. Oh and I used to be a medical secretary, so I actually had to write this kind of documentation. :)

I think that you need to first go on the Internet and find either a therapist, a psychologist, or psychiatrist who specializes in autism. Only a psychiatrist can diagnose you with autism, but a therapist or a psychologist can write you a note to delay things for you at school and they can refer you to a psychiatrist. A regular doctor is not good enough. They don't know jack about the autism spectrum. All they know is what they learned on TV. It's the same if you go to the wrong therapist or psychologist.

You should also read up about autism so that you know what kind of accommodations you need to ask for. There may be some things that you haven't thought about needing that might help you tremendously. For example, if you're having trouble concentrating in class because someone next to you has an irritating voice or smells like perfume or whatever, maybe it's hard for you to take notes that day. So it might be helpful to get an accommodation saying that you can take a voice recorder to school sometimes. You may need something saying that sometimes you'll need to skip a day if you have a meltdown. You might need something to excuse you from groupwork. You might need a general statement saying that your psychiatrist may need to adjust these accommodations as necessary.

Don't feel embarrassed about doing these things. I have felt that way many times. IT'S WORTH IT, and on a bad day it could mean the difference between making it or not making it in school. If you need any more help, just let me know. My email should be on my profile page. :)



Wandering_Stranger
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30 Sep 2012, 5:37 am

Thank you



YellowBanana
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30 Sep 2012, 9:18 am

I posted some advice regarding this in another thread of yours (about how to get full assessment) so I won't repeat it here. Just to say feel free to PM me if you need any help with this.


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Wandering_Stranger
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30 Sep 2012, 11:50 am

Thank you. I think some of the help you mentioned in that thread I already get. I know some of it is organisation related stuff.



thewhitrbbit
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30 Sep 2012, 11:58 am

If your doctor is not willing to say what accommodations you need, you might want to look for another doctor.

When students apply for accommodations, they bring in a form from their doctor stating their diagnosis and what accommodations are being requested.

Disability specialists meet with the student and go over the accommodations and decide if they are appropriate or not. Sometimes doctors will over ask.



Wandering_Stranger
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02 Oct 2012, 9:08 am

The only recommendation my doctor made was that I need to be somewhere quiet because of my issues with noise.



thewhitrbbit
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02 Oct 2012, 9:53 am

Wandering_Stranger wrote:
The only recommendation my doctor made was that I need to be somewhere quiet because of my issues with noise.


So you would ask your disability support office to give you an accommodation to test in a private room.



Toadstool
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26 Oct 2012, 11:02 am

Are you at university in the UK?
I am, and I have a notetaker who accompanies me to lectures and seminars due to my social anxiety, plus takes notes (obviously) as I can't process the information and write it down at the same time.
I have a Mentor who meets with me once a week (or more if needed). She helps me with organisational tasks, understanding assignments (ie not taking phrasing literally), arranging to pay fees, writing emails to other departments - whatever help I need to enable me to pursue the course effectively.
I have an arrangement with my department that seminar leaders should avoid using fluorescent lights as much as is possible, and that I may leave if I become overwhelmed. Also, that in groupwork I only have to be in a group of two, three at the most.
I sit exams on my own with a computer and have a little extra time- can't remember how much.
Would any of that be useful to you?



Crysta
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25 Nov 2012, 5:57 am

Wandering_Stranger wrote:
The only recommendation my doctor made was that I need to be somewhere quiet because of my issues with noise.


Hi there!
I'm an aspie going to uni, and I've just registered at the disability services (not for anything perse, simply registered there). The process of a) getting a diagnosis was difficult enough! I went through 2 psychologists and 3 GPs to even get a reference to see a psychiatrist who deals with autism. Then I had to do the tests and interviews and finally got it! b) the uni disability services required a form confirming my diagnosis, then asked what services I require (same situation!). However, I, like you, have no clue!! I've never received help or support before. Compounded by my ADD and dyslexia, the only 'support' I'm getting is special consideration with grading - which I neither want nor need. I'd rather ask for certain specific things: do you have trouble with class participation [maybe request that you can submit written answers to the points or discussion of other students]; do you suffer anxiety in class [request lecture notes or recordings]...

:)


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