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disability at college?

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Posted 12/9/2007 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to be starting pastry school in February and I'm kinda scared of the long classes, 4-6 hours per class! I was wondering if any has ever tried to register with the office of disabilities at their college. I've heard of some colleges letting people with depression register so I thought maybe I'd give UC a try. I wanted to know if anyone had tried this and had success because there's no way I'll be able to make it through a 6 hour class without needing to hit the restroom at least twice. And some professors just arent cool with people taking off for breaks like I would probably need. If it doesn't happen that I'm able to register than i'll just carry around my doctor's note to all my teachers and let them know my situation. I just figured being registered would make the teachers that wouldn't give a crap otherwise be more lenient on me.
Posted 12/9/2007 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, I am a crohnie and in law school. My first year I registered with disability services. I had to have my doc fill out paperwork. My accomodations were bathroom breaks whenever necessary, could have food and drink in class, and if I flared before an exam it could be rescheduled. Also, if I missed too much of an exam because I was in the bathroom I could have extra time.

I found all my profs were so understanding that I didn't need the official paperwork so I didn't bother doing it this year. I have never needed the extra time on exams. I dont think I spend that much more time in the bathroom than the average student. I just go more frequently. I recently had a mock trial and told my mock judge if I requested a recess to please grant it because I have a medical condition and need to use the restroom urgently. He was fine with it and I never needed the recess.

I think registering or telling your profs really helps with the anxiety. I hope it goes as well for you as it did for me.

However, working with food there may be requirements that if you have diarrhea you do not come to class. I used to waitress and just had a note that my diarrhea was not contagious and then I could continue working despite it. But, Id still be embarassed getting sick in the resturant bathroom because if any patrons saw me in there they had no idea I had crohns and not the flu.
Posted 12/9/2007 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I too was registered with my colleges office of disability. It was great! All i needed was a letter from my GI and to fill out some paperwork. I would always talk to the professor before classes started to let them know i needed a seat by the door and explain the situation a bit. If i missed class I could have someone taking notes for me. I usually had friends in each class that had a digital recorder or something that they would turn on if i wasn't there. Go talk to them, you shouldn't have any problems.
Posted 12/10/2007 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
  I got my bachelor's degree and never registered... but I never really needed to.  Now I'm in my 2nd year of nursing school and had a really bad flare in October.  I am so used to trying to "barrel through" and just go to class, etc. that I did a really stupid thing.  After not eating for 3 weeks because I was so sick and nausesated, I went in to school, took an exam and then went and got IV fluids because I had stopped drinking too.  Naturally, I failed the test.  This put my entire semester in jeopardy.  My teacher (who already knew what was going on) basically marched me over to the disability office and made me put this on file.  I had sort of the same things as FitzyK23, extra time on tests, accomadations as far as breaks and things to go to the bathroom, etc.  I say, file the paperwork.  You have more than enough reason to.  This way, if you get sick (which happens so quick sometimes as we all know) you have the paperwork to fall back on as a technicality in case grades or something becomes an issue.  Good luck!

Posted 12/10/2007 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, PS. One of my teachers told me if you do have an issue, it also helps your teacher to be able to accomodate you if you have the paperwork already done. That way, it's not like they are "not being fair" to everyone else.
Posted 12/12/2007 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have long chemistry labs also ....I have never had a problem with my TA letting me step out when I need to . I also try to schedule breaks between classes. I think school with UC is the worst though. I am always embarrassed to be going to the bathroom again.
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