College assistance

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I'm going back to college in September after taking the year out and I'm feeling hopeful about the help I'll be getting from the Disability Support Officer regarding reading, writing and organisational problems. I'm also hoping we'll be able to arrange something for the days when I'm overloaded and in shutdown, as that's not something I can get a doctor's note for, and is also something that can come on suddenly for me.

What about you, what assistance do/did you get from college, if any, to give you the same chance as everyone else at completing your course? What is/was your experience of college like?

I'm in the UK so the support may be slightly different, but I've just applied for assistance for the first time this year. I was allowed to have on-campus accommodation for all years (normally you move into private residence in the 2nd and 3rd years) and I'm getting 1hr a week 'mentoring' starting next year. I'm not sure what the mentors will do exactly, but I think they'll keep me on track with deadlines and make sure I don't get too stressed out by university. I was also given a laptop, a copy of Microsoft Office and an iPod touch (because it acts as a pda, my organisation can be quite poor). Finally there's book/printing/photocopying allowances. It's pretty impressive really, but the mentoring is the crucial part, I really don't want to 'burn out' due to stress or anything like that.

My daughter gets:

- a meeting once a week with a special needs person for mentoring sort of stuff. IE managing her work load, prioritising and stuff like that
- extra time in tests and exams
- simplied English in exam/test papers
- a handiphone, which is a specially adapted mobile phone/personal organiser for people with cognitive difficulties
- allowed to use her ipod in exam rooms and classes to regulate sound levels herself

I'm in the process of getting (new mature student):
- software that allows me to speak my assignments instead of writing them as I find it easy to form my thoughts into spoken words than written words. (It then converts my words into written form)
- software to read back to me the written version of what I said and anything else I scan in as I find it easier to process stuff I hear than stuff I read.
- I get my course materials and books in audio form.

well; all i get myself (by request) is an early and in-depth knowledge or expected knowledge, the ability (trough mentor contact) to do tests oral instead of written and a weekly planning check.
if i wanted; i could also get extra time on tests and alternative assignments for group work.

The only continual accommodations I required during college were needing a single room and needing additional time on my statistics tests. I didn't find out I had AS until my freshman year of college, so I went through all of high school not having accommodations. So, that's why I didn't require many special privileges. And I didn't even start out having extra time with stats. I only started that when I had to rush to finish my second exam, even though I knew how to do all the problems. It was just a matter of me being slower.

Other accommodations I received? One was ongoing sessions at the college counseling center. Students only were allowed to have six sessions per semester, unless they had diagnoses and/or continual problems. And I was once allowed to register early for a class I desperately wanted to get into. I was the last registration letter that year, and I was in tears worrying that there wouldn't be any spots left when my letter came around.

As for my college experience, I greatly enjoyed college once I adjusted to all of the drastic changes and schedule differences encountered in my freshman year. I liked finally being in a serious academic environment. But even college wasn't serious enough for me, which is one of the many reasons I want to go to grad school in the future.

During my first semester in college, the Disability Support Service assigned me note-takers for some of my classes. I was also allowed to take tests in the DSS area of the campus.

During my second semester, I received no support whatsoever (though that was because I never approached them for support in the first place), and so I was completely on my own. I had to work like hell to pass some of my classes that semester, but I managed to do so. For that, I am quite proud of myself.

So far it looks like I'll be getting some accommodations in college and some great technology. Regarding accommodations, I'll be given a separate exam room, possibly a laptop to use for written exams, some extra time or someone to read out the questions to me so that I don't spend forever trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be answering. Regarding assistive technology, I'll be getting a Livescribe Smartpen, Read&Write GOLD, and Dragon Dictate. I'm amazed at all this support after going without for so many years!!

All I get at my school is a private exam room. I am very greatful for the private room though as it is definitely needed.

i got assistance but because they misdiagnosed me it didn't do me much good. they did nothing for my problems with noise.

so my experience was that i couldn't get the degree i wanted because i couldn't get any peace and quiet because it's normal for the moron children that tend to compromise most of the student body to make lots of noise and act like douche bags.

Have you guys ever heard of New directions for young adults? I found their website after researching college options. newdirectionsfya(dot)com

From what I read, it sounds like they mentor you while you are going to college or a tech school. What made me interested is that they teach indep. life skills since you are living in your own apt with staff living in the same complex.

Do any of you guys go/ have gone there or know someone who has?

Thanks,
Tiffany

I thought about maybe really trying to get into some program that would provide that sort of support.....but since I am not sure yet if i want to pursue a degree I feel like something like that might prove to be to invasive as I don't like the idea of being monitered by anyone(there are things they would not like to know about.) Also I am kind of used to having to deal with it all myself and I tend to get frusterated if people provide too much help. Also I have the ability to do well acedemically. Sometimes its very difficult if my depression or anxiety gets too bad or if other problems come up but yeah there are no accomidations that would help that.