4 replies to this topic

[Drea]

Has anyone out there ever had to fill out papers for college accomodations? I am in the process and really don't know what to ask for? I was wondering if anyone has had these same problems as me:
falling asleep while:
reading a book
watching a video
during lecture
or even an activity

This may sound silly, but I was in colorguard in high school and I would fall asleep while on the field standing (I wasn't diagnosed at the time). I was just wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to ask for accommodations for this.

I am 21 years old and was diagnosed when I was 18, right as I was going into college. Up until now I have been trying to hide it from my professors, but I think they're starting to notice something. I work with special needs students during the day as a teachers associate and go to school at night. I'm majoring in elementery education. In the past when I have tried to tell the professors they have been very rude and unhelpful, and I didn't want to be discriminated against. Please if anyone has any suggestions let me know.

Thanks

[merrymom1013]

Drea, Check out your college's services for students with dsabilities. Every school is required by federal law to make accommodations. ( Often the information is right on their website.)
You will need to document your medical condition, how that impacts you (in other words, how is narcolepsy disabling to you) & what accommodations might be helpful (be specific- seating in the back/front, copies of notes, taping lectures, bokks on tape so you can listen to the textbook while you are walking to stay awake, extra time & special scheduling of exams- no 8 am exams, priority registration to get only afternoon classes, private dorm room for sleep & keeping your drugs secure- whatever REASONABLE accommodation you need to make it work . Before you ask your doctor for a letter, find out if your school requires a special form to be comlpeted by the doctor- no sense asking twice. Your doctor will need to be pretty detailed. I have found doctors happy to help if you give them a rough draft of the type of letter you are looking for. They are happy to take that & add or subtract what they are comfortable signing off on & it increases the chances you will get what you need from them. After you get the documentation the school requires, the disability office will develop a plan with you & give you the documentation you need to take to your professors.
The professors will readily grant accommodations outlined by the disability office- they don't even necessarily have to know your diagnosis. They are not required to make any allowances for you if you just go & talk to them. They will make authorized accommodations & if they don't you will have the disability office to advocate/ mediate for you.
Exactly what is needed for documentation may vary from school to school. Where the disability people are will also vary- sometimes a separate office, sometimes through the counseling or health center, etc. If you follow those channels, I'm guessing you will find the support you need. Good luck & let us know how you make out.

[maxfan]

i'm a high school senior and i'm wondering how to apply to colleges with a disability like this one. i had to leave two schools because of my narcolespy, and i'm now on independent study, so i have no idea how to let a college know that all those days i wasn't there were because i wsa sleeping, and when my grades slipped, i wasn't just slacking off. any help would mean a lot!

[merrymom1013]

Maxfan, you don't officially disclose a disability until you are already accepted (and of course you don't have to identify yourself at all unless you think you will need accommodations.) If you & your doctor think you will need something like a private dorm room you would want to start the process shortly after getting accepted to make sure the school can give you what you need. As for when you are just applying- technically you have to be accepted based on grades, test scores & the same standards as everyone else. Only a very few schools accept less qualified students under a special disability program. Most say if you are a qualified student, accepted and have a disability, we will make accommodations. If there are special circumstances (like lots of absences or horrible grades the semester before diagnosis) that would hurt your chances, you might want to disclose that in an essay, a special letter with your application, or an interview. You want to make yourself look good: "I missed a lot of school and my grades were falling. I was diagnosed with a serious neurolgical disorder. Now that I've been diagnosed, I can take medication to help with my symptoms. Once again I can handle a regular course load"....you get the idea. Do that only if you think it will help your case. Often smaller schools admissions offices are more open to that kind of thing than the big state schools. They may appreciate that you have risen to meet challenges and overcome adversity/illness. You can always ask someone in the admission or disability office about how best to proceed. Remember, even if you identify yourself as having narcolepsy in your application essay or interview, it isn't the same as identifying yourself as needing accommodations after you get there. Most importantly, you need to think about the kinds of supports & college you'll need to be successful.

[wendiesel]

I don't know how far you are in the process of setting up accommodations. I am a student at an accelerated program. We are in class from 8-3 every day. This is my last accommodations plan. I am working on adjusting item 3 under accommodations/recommendations right now. We get pop quizzes during class. If I leave the lecture for any reason and miss the quiz; I have no current projection. I hope this helps.

Areas to be accommodated:

1. Attention
2. Exhaustion
3. Study Ability
4. Assessment

Accommodations/Recommendations:

1. Permit student additional time to take examinations, up to double the amount of time scheduled for the particular examination.
2. Reschedule tests to time of the day indicated by your name as generally less symptomatic. The time of the exam is to be established by mutual agreement between your name and the block coordinator/professor in advance of the examination. The alternate examination time cannot conflict with other required academic activities of either your name or the professor involved with test administration.
3. Provide an area on campus where your name can lie down as necessary.
4. Excuse absences and late arrivals for your name without separate and individual doctor’s excuses for absences and late arrivals associated with her condition. Such excused absences will allow for the taking of quizzes and active learning missed. Such absences or late arrivals must be communicated to the block coordinator in advance whenever possible and reasonable.
5. Maintain lab time to no more than 4 hours; in order to accomplish this, work with laboratory professors to evaluate your name material first to decrease length of labs.



Academic Recommendations:

1. Utilized audio recorded lectures available online or from the student’s personal recording of the lecture (permission to record granted).
2. Work closely with the professor in the course and/or block coordinator on material and notification of needs and assistance.
3. Notify professors immediately at the beginning of the block regarding your needs and accommodations.
4. Notify the administration with any change in condition, whether underlying disease or prescribed therapy that would necessitate a change in the plan.