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Academic Accommodations (College) Help

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Posted 8/19/2017 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all!

I am planning to seek accommodations from my college's Disability Services. Specific symptoms that I think might impact my academics include: blurred vision, poor short-term memory, forgetfulness, light sensitivity, difficulty w speech, and word finding problems (esp. w speech), difficulty making decisions, and difficulty w organization.

What are some accommodations that might be helpful for someone with these symptoms?

The accommodations that I had at my last college, before the dx of Lyme, were:
(Classroom Accommodations):
-Peer Note Taker
-Preferred Seating
-Attendance Flexibility
-Limited Flexibility with Deadlines with Negotiation & Advanced Notice

(Test/Exam Accommodations):
-Reschedule if More Than One Test/Exam Per Day
-Exams/Quizzes: Extra Time 1.5x
-Exams/Quizzes: Distraction Reduced location/Quiet Room
-Exams/Quizzes: Large Print

Although my new college doesn't have a proctoring center, I could have the option of scheduling tests at a public library. This could be useful for times when I have more than one test/exam per day. At the same time, the library can actually be a surprisingly noisy place to take tests. I'm thinking that I could get the accommodation, but try taking a quiz in class and see how I do and feel.

I am also wondering what people think of asking for permission to record lectures. Has anyone done this? (I don't want to alienate my professors by requesting this. At the same time, I do think it would be more helpful than all my other accommodations combined...)

Thanks for the help.
Posted 8/19/2017 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Some schools have policies about asking permission before recording, which it sounds as if you are planning to do. I don't see anything wrong with it and imagine it's fairly common. When I was going to school in Australia, non-native speakers of English would commonly record lectures.
Posted 8/19/2017 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Just put your phone on silent and hit record. Don't share the recording and destroy after you're done. No harm no foul.
Posted 8/21/2017 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Agent Bex,
I currently am at college with accommodations - I got them for the dx of CFS - because that's what my DO has diagnosed me with. So long as you can get a letter from a DO/DC/MD/professional, you should be fine... I am fortunate in that my college has an amazing disability support services office. When I went in to talk with the co-ordinator, they actually suggested accommodations for me as well as me suggesting them. They have worked with people with CFS and with lyme before so that helps!

What I currently have is:
Testing accommodations - like you mentioned. Double time, distraction reduced (I can take exams in the testing center), permission to take breaks in tests - can take test in segments.

Wheelchair accommodations - because I need to have my head resting against something, not just my back. I also have a reclining wheelchair so I can recline it - that is also specified in my accommodations.

Note taker
I can eat a snack/drink in class
I can record lectures.
Attendance flexibility

I have permission to leave the class if I need to (for me, it's because I get overstimulated and have sensory issues so I will last longer if I can go out into the quiet hallway for a minute or two...)

I can get textbooks in an alternative format. Ask about "read-write" software. It's where the computer will read the textbook to you - for those of us who get where we can't focus to read.

My biggest challenge is myself - making sure that I use my wheelchair when I need to and remembering that it really is for prevention so I don't go into a flare up. I walk and push it myself - which makes me feel awkward, but I really do need it to support my body to sit through class.
Posted 8/21/2017 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure what the Disability Service people are like at your college, but if you meet with them and tell them your symptoms would they suggest accommodations for you?
Posted 8/21/2017 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Btw - love your name. Makes me wish I'd named myself "Agent" something or other :D
Posted 8/21/2017 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow! Thanks so much for the answers!

Blueskies7, I appreciate your response so much! Knowing there's someone else who needs accommodations for Lyme makes me feel better about my own situation. I'm so glad your college has a good accommodations office-that's really important. I need to make an appointment with my college accommodations office, but I keep forgetting! It's sort of frustrating. I'm putting a reminder in my phone to tell me to call tomorrow...hopefully that will work! Also, I'm so glad that you're doing what's best for you and your body (i.e. wheelchair) even when it feels awkward/embarrassing.

I really appreciated how you listed your accommodations. I will definitely ask about the tape recorder and the "read-write" textbooks in addition to the accommodations I got last year. The "read-write" textbooks sounds really helpful; I hope my college has it! Do you have to pay for the extra software?

Re: my username. Hahaha I'm so glad you like it! You can actually re-name yourself in "My Profile" on this website. I was "Bex88" at first, but I decided to change it, because now every time I log in as "Agent Bex" and every time someone replies to me and calls me "Agent Bex", I smile...!
Posted 8/25/2017 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry it's taken me a while to reply!

Yes it's always so comforting I feel like, to know that other people are doing the same!

Have you made an appointment with your accommodations office yet?

At my college, no I do not have to pay for the extra software. They just install it on your computer. They have it available in all the computers in the library too, for anyone who wants to use them.

However because I have a macbook I do not need the software. What they do is they give me a bunch of rtf files that have the textbook on them (if they are not common classes, it may take a while for them to get them ready just FYI). Then on every macbook there is a "Dictation and Speech" function where you can get the computer to read the files to you.

So glad getting called Agent Bex makes you smile!! It makes me smile just seeing your name lol.
But I like blueskies enough for now :D
Posted 8/25/2017 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Also with recording lectures - they do have it as an accommodation, and they get students to sign a form saying they will not share it with anyone etc etc. Because some classes may share sensitive things.
Posted 8/25/2017 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for following up with me!

Yes, I have an appointment with the accommodations office on Monday! I also have an appointment to determine whether I would be eligible for Advantage, this community college program that helps people graduate with associates degrees and transfer to bachelors program.

That is so awesome that the software is free at your school! How does the software work at the school computers? (As in, do you hook up earbuds and click on something?) Does this mean that you don't pay for textbooks?

Hahaha I like blueskies as a name-it's a really pretty and calming image!

Thanks again for all the info/guidance...when do you start school? I start on Sept. 5.
Posted 8/25/2017 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure! Lol. Because I've never used it. It's much more helpful for me to use my own computer at home. I'm on campus the least that I can be - just for classes.

I do still buy textbooks because I'm better if I don't do things with screens as much, and I like real books. Also with biology books I need all the diagrams/pictures because I am a visual learner.

However once in a while when I'm too tired to sit up and read and my brain is too tired, I am better able to at least get some info in me by listening to it. I'm talking the times when I am too tired to even write. So I do use real textbooks the majority of the time. The "dictation and speech" function is just a back-up. And my disability support services co-ordinator knows that smile

I started Wednesday! Hence the late reply.
Posted 8/25/2017 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you have an appointment! Yay! I pray you get a really helpful, knowledgable person to help you!
Posted 8/25/2017 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the information. I'm actually really similar to you in that I'm 1. more of a visual learner, 2. Screens bother me, and 3. Sometimes I have trouble reading for vision reasons and I think it would be helpful for similar things as you!

I have a MacBook too. Something just occurred to me: can the MacBook software "Dictation and Speech" read out loud from the internet? That would be really awesome!

Wow, you start school way earlier than I do! Good luck with all your school work!!
Posted 8/25/2017 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
It can! I just got it to read your post smile Go into system preferences, Dictation and Speech, then Text to Speech. Make sure you tick "Speak selected text when the key is pressed". You can change which key you want to use, too.
Posted 8/25/2017 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! and you too!
Posted 8/26/2017 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
This is *so* awesome!!! Thanks so much!!

Also, the Text to Speech function is useful for proofreading!
Posted 8/26/2017 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
I never thought of that!! So going to use it for that now!!
Posted 8/26/2017 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
It's definitely a useful function!! ✨✨
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