Need help with school accommodations.

Post Reply New Topic

So, I got a "teacher specialist" from the disability office. To make a long story short(er), here are details:

-1st appt. in April, she pretty much denied early registration for me, saying it's only for people with mobility issues. Told to make an appointment for June and to call back in May to do it
-I called back in May, specified June, but the lady gave me July 14th. July 10th is the day of early registration
-I ended up getting a list of accommodations I need from the person who evaluated me, and called the disability office. The woman I spoke with told me to just wait for my appointment and there is nothing they can do.
-I call again a week before my appointment, and was again told that there is no way anything can be done. She noted that my appointment is only 4 days after early registration, so if I get it, I will just get an earlier registration than what I have
-During my appointment, my teacher specialist pretty much ignores everything. She has the power to change my registration date to an earlier one still, but she literally just shrugged her shoulders and kept ignoring it. She then stated "Well, your registration date (the 22nd) isn't that bad."
-She also wanted me to "try and take your tests without your accommodations), and kept ignoring my my discomfort with that. She finally said OK you can have them for all of your tests the first time. She also kept recommending what classes I should take, discouraged me from taking my honors classes (I'm in the program), recommended a less than full time load (even though I need my pell grant and my degree is 198 credits! Jesus!) and kept saying that I should be aiming for any grade above a D. In other words, she is treating me like I'm extremely high functioning and also helpless and not capable of doing any classes at the same time. I felt offended.
-I asked if it will be easier to do early registration next semester, and she just nodded her head to say "yes", but ignored talking about it.

Should I ask to change my teacher specialist? Should I go to the dean? I feel like it's too late to do anything now, of course. However, I really did need the early registration. I'm now having panic attacks and obsessively looking at all of the classes filling up that I can't register for. I also needed to have my classes as close together as possible and to start in the mornings. I had planned this out for a year now, and my plans are ruined. The changes are too much for me, but I guess I will just have to deal with it. I was only planning on taking general eds this semester, but the ability to set a very precise schedule is so important for the next semester that it could mean the difference between excelling and completely failing. I feel like the disability office just mocked me and ignored what I said because I'm disabled.

I'm not the best person to give advice on this, since I was never successful with this type of thing. One thing that might be nice would be to have early registration to arrange your schedule on your list of accommodations.

It may not be the whole office which is filled with unhelpful people. I would not want to be pressured negatively by someone like your teacher specialist, so I would ask to switch.

Maybe there are things you could do to manage the schedule you get. Why do you need all the classes close together and in the morning?

The reason I need the accommodation is because I have extremely bad meltdowns if I have to stay at the campus extended periods. If I get my classes all in a row, I can get in and out.

I managed to sign up for four classes this semester. One class I planned on taking (online) was closed. I started freaking out like back in high school. I have had panic attacks for a month and a half because I can't plan my day. I obsessively looked at the classes for weeks until I could register. I even threw up because of my anxiety.

It's too last minute. I can't stand not being able to plan my day. I also study at night. I have tried to change, but I never could. I guess my ASD causes me to be very ridged in my routines according to the person who diagnosed me. It causes the kind of extreme anxiety that made me drop out of high school. I need extreme structure, so I naturally plan my days. Anything spontaneous causes me to melt down and I can't function at all.

I will ask to switch now. I think I just needed reassurance that it's OK to do this. I have trouble being assertive.

At least you're starting school.

I'd be more anxious if I wasn't starting school.

It's the opposite for me, unfortunately. School produces so much anxiety even though I love learning. I'm hoping I can get it under control. The good news: I only have to go to campus 2 days per week. I'm taking 4 classes, two of which are online. The other two classes are honors classes for the honors program I'm in. :]

This will sound pathetic, but I have dutifully planned my exact classes I want to take for my whole time in college. I planned it over the course of 3 months with many alternatives. I know that the world doesn't care what I want, but college isn't the "real" working world, you know? I felt better that the social worker from the non-profit told me that all of the people diagnosed had that accommodation and that I do need it due to the issues I was having. However, they all go to Santa Monica College, which was my original choice. DOH! SMC automatically gives autistic people certain accommodations and, I think, a little bit more support than PCC. BOO, PCC, BOO.

I will update you about all of this process via message, too. I'm excited but nervous.