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Getting disability accommodations for school?

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 2/28/2017 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I want to go back to college this year but I can't do it without help. Has anyone got disability accommodations to help them with classes? And if so is Lyme Disease an acceptable diagnosis or would the doctor need to write a letter saying something else? (MS, Lupus....) Thanks!

Post Edited (Sean.scott256) : 2/28/2017 2:37:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/28/2017 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
You need to separate the two. Getting disability insurance is based more on severity of symptoms than on a diagnosis (except of course for certain kinds of terminal cancers). And it's not based on doing or not being able to do your current job, but any job.
Posted 2/28/2017 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
This is for school not work. My therapist said I could get disability benefits for school because of my Lyme. Benefits means having more time for homework,exams...... I didn't know if it was that easy or not.
Posted 2/28/2017 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Sean-that's not disability benefits. That would be a disability accommodation. What you are looking for is academic accommodations due to health issues.

I know from the articles I've seen on how to get disability benefits they don't list Lyme. They list the issues Lyme causes such as debilitating pain, cognitive issues, vision disturbances etc.
Posted 2/28/2017 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
So Lyme is not a valid way to get school accommodations?
Posted 2/28/2017 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Disability benefits based on Lyme is different than school accommodations. True disability benefits are through the Social Security Administration.

For accommodations, I think you need to check with the school. As JRPSF has indicated, you are seeking accommodations based on symptoms as a result of Lyme, but not Lyme itself as Lyme is not considered a disability.
Posted 3/1/2017 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I'll take to my school. I just didn't know if I should mention lyme or if that would ruin my chances of getting accommodations.
Posted 3/1/2017 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
I have accommodations for school including (but not limited to) extended time on tests and a reasonable number of disability-related absences. I just needed a letter from my LLMD explaining how this could impact my performance.
Posted 3/1/2017 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
This may or may not help
askjan.org/soar/other/lyme.html
Posted 3/1/2017 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
If you are looking for accommodations (not $) you can get a letter from your doctor saying you have multiple systemic infectious disease syndrome - Horowitz and Jemsek's name for Lyme and co-infections. It worked for DS who is still in high school and has a 504. His letter stated the accommodations he may need - extra time for tests and papers, excused absences for illness/medical appts, and anything else he needed.
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