school problems and Crohn's?

Hello everyone,
I am a new member here, even though I was diagnosed last May with Crohn's. I had suffered for a couple years without a diagnosis, then was happy to know what was wrong. However, I did not think it would get to this point: I am currently pursuing my degree in Special Education. My college requires two full years of student teaching in four different classrooms. I was planning on graduating this May. However, because of a cold that I got at the end of March, which caused an infection, I have missed more days than the college allows. I have missed 9 days. It started with a cold at the end of March, then a flare up, then a migraine. I had no idea it would get to that point!
Anyway, because I have missed 9 days, they are making me repeat my student teaching in the fall. I am so mad! I have already invested all this time. I am 5 weeks aways from finishing and just because of my Crohn's, they are postponing my graduation. I was taking Remicade from Aug.-Dec. 09., but because of a loss of insurance in January, I could no longer afford the infusions. I have finally set up home infusions with Remicade, which seems to be working, but it is just too late. I am so distraught about the situation. I think that it is very unfair that they can do this to me just because I was sick. It is completely out of my control and I am always taking steps in trying to stay healthy. I had a meeting with the Disability Support Services at my college this morning, but they were not much help. They said they could recommend allowing some absences, but it is up to my advisors and professors how they accommodate. I feel like I need to take legal action, but don't know where to turn. I am so upset about it. I feel like it is one set back after another with me. I am trying to stay positive about the situation, but it is difficult sometimes! Any advice?

Thanks.

I understand how you feel, Piper... It can be very frustrating going to college and having this stupid disease... I've had to withdraw from classes so many times... :(... My DSS office is very nice... I wish I could give you some advice other than what Zena said... but... that sounds about the extent of what you can do...

(There really oughtta be better accomodations for students with our kind of disability)

Cleo35,
Appreciate your reasoning regarding a person needing to meet the same requirements as other students but with regards Crohn's not making you disabled I think I disagree with you there. For some it is a disabling chronic illness, not everyone granted, but for a lot of people yes and any school/university etc should have provisions in place to 'enable' any such affected person to study and graduate-not cutting any slack but finding acceptable ways to help!!

Thanks for your inputs.

I completely understand that I need a certain amount of hours in the classroom teaching. However, I think they should have counted hours that I have done outside of student teaching. For example, I spent 16 days as lead teacher at a center for students with cognitive impairments last summer and am planning on doing the same this coming summer.

I don't expect them to just let me get my degree without the required time, however, they maybe could have worked with me a little more and possibly accepted other teaching hours. I am just really mad that I have come this far and all of a sudden my life is on hold for another year.

I feel that Crohn's disease is disabling. It has completely debilitated me and what I want to do with my life. Now that I am back on Remicade, I am hoping that things will turn around again. It is just a little too late.

If I would have known 3 years ago that I had Crohn's disease, I would not have gone into education. Now, I feel I am stuck.

piper: repeat the semester, hope the remicade works and get on with your life. I've been dealing with this disease for 35 years - 4 surgeries, the last of which was a total proctocolectomy - does anyone really think I don't know how debilitating this disease can be??

apologies to all for the multiple posts!

Working in special education can be an advantage for you. You will probably have teacher assistants in your classroom and you may be extra lucky and have a bathroom in the classroom.

The downside is that you'll be exposed to everything that is in the neighborhood. Kids like to share. Plus, the parents of kids with special needs can't always afford to take time off from work so some send their kids to school even when they are sick. They dose them with whatever will suppress their symptoms then mid-morning it wears off and you have a really sick kid that you've just spent the morning next to. Actually, way too many parents are in this situation so it happens a lot in general ed too. I am not judging parents, I was tempted to do this myself when my kids were little.

Is school still in session where you are and can you make up those 9 days now? Two years of student teaching is a lot. My daughter just had to do about 4 months. She's graduating this month with a degree in special ed.

Good luck!