Disability Support Services On A University Campus

[Teller]

Hey all, it has been quite awhile.

Today I started gathering all the paperwork and documentation needed to register with DDS so I can have some leeway with class absences, etc. should I find myself in a bad state and need to excuse myself.

I am angry and somewhat ashamed about doing so, however. It just is making the whole PTSD situation very real and 'out there' so to speak. I am not comfortable with people knowing I have it unless I have given personal disclosure on my own terms. Before now I was taking baby steps in addressing this, and this seems so full throttle. But it has to be done or I will literally fail out of school and be homeless.

Anyway, I hope it helps. Thoughts? Any experiences with using a disability program?

 

[alleycat]

From being on the other end of it, I can tell you no one you don't want knowing will have to know. All your professors will only get a list of what accommodations you need, not that you have PTSD. For all they know it could be any number of other disabilities that cause you to need those accommodations and, honestly, we don't tend to care why you need accommodations, just how we're going to meet them and still teach you what you need to be taught.

I know the process sucks and it's hard to be that open about something you'd rather hide, but if you need help, you gotta ask for it. Unfortunately, that means going through a bunch of bullshit to get it but that's what you have to do.

 

[ronin47]

I've recieved service from the disability office at my university. Really, the only person who I disclosed anything too directly was the program coordinator, just one person. From there he arranged everything with my professors and never told them what my issue was specifically. I was actually referred to him by my T and he told me up front he had a lot of experience with PTSD and right away had a string of suggestion on how to deal with it in terms of how it affected my academic performance.

Just drop in and pay them a visit. You may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Ronin....would you please share some wisdom PTSD and academic performance?

 

[ronin47]

Ronin....would you please share some wisdom PTSD and academic performance?

You mean wisdom about how PTSD affects academic performance?

 

[Lionheart]

I used a disability services program at a local university and when it came to my school work, they could not even provide me a note-taker to help me with my classes, so it was not very helpful............until I did my internship.

During my internship, I had a relapse of symptoms and expressed my concern about it and ended up doing my internship at the school, in the Disability Services Department. This put me in an environment with others who had disabilities and those that support them. It made my internship much easier.

It is a little embarrassing at first to let others know I have a disability, but I ended up earning my degree on my own, with honors, and without very much assistance from the school and I am very proud of that fact.

I hope you have a similar, positive experience with the dept./university!!!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

It was helpful, up to a point. My last resort was going part time (which I could have done and still graduated on time as I had so many credits), but it was a no-go as it was a full time only program. Mind you, my disability started a year into schooling, so I was forced to switch to another program in the university. Yes, it really did suck...

 

[ronin47]

Some of the things I've been allowed to do that have helped is record the lectures so I can listen to them later in a quiet, more secure feeling enviornment. I've made a routine out of listening to them as I'm going to sleep at night. That way I'm able to absorb the information better and the ability to listen to it repetitively is very helpful.

Another common tool that might be offered is taking your exams in a seperate room and being allowed to take 1.5x the time to finish it. Having the extra time and the minimization of distractions can be helpful since a traditional exam setting (a classroom with other students coming and going) can be very stressful. I'm in my senior year now and I'm going to take a crack at just recording the lectures, not doing the time and a half for exams, since I feel like with close to three years of therapy under my belt I've learned to manage my mind much better.

Best of luck to you. Telling other people is uncomfortable at first, but really what you're doing is expanding your saftey net.

 

[OKRADLAK]

I did it and did not tell anyone. I needed help and it hurt me to not tell, but I am still glad I did not. I wanted my prof's to not know. It helped because I got a stipend for therapy.

Looking back, I needed to take time off. There was an early class than had me so sleep deprived I could not function and had serious sucidal relapse. If I had to do it again, I would have told that ONE prof that I had to take at least one day of that class off because of a chronic illness and would not specify what it was. I would never say PTSD. They would not understand.

I hope you are able to navigate it. I know how hard it is!!

 

[Teller]

Thanks all for replying. Last two weeks have been hellish, so late response.

Let's see, update: I was diagnosed with PTSD and MDD and given medical prescriptions and go to counseling every week by my University's counseling center months ago. They are legit diagnoses given by professionals, but apparently the counseling center there can not provide additional testing criteria required for me to qualify with DSS of my private school. I have to go elsewhere to have certain tests done outside of campus. Now, the waiting period to get in to see some of these shrinks is at least a month, and it will cost me some major mulah I do not have.

My predicament now is much worse, I can't qualify for the services I really need (in my Senior year, mind you) until probably next semester (if I actually get an appointment and find the money). My professors have been moderately understanding anyway, one professor just accepted a major paper 2 weeks late from me with no point deduction. I do not understand her kindness, as it is mostly without explanation of my situation. But man, I appreciate it. So, I have decided to balls up and jump through all the beauracratic hoops required to get the DSS services asap. All the responses on here have given me a much more positive outlook on asking for help, so thanks all for sharing your wisdom.

My counselor realizes the situation I am in and that its just part of a convoluted system and not my fault. So he has offered to call some of my professors and speak to them about what my issues in class might be, why I have not been able to simply register with DSS for accommodations, how the prof. just being aware of the situation (in some detail) might help me (as opposed to nothing), and let them know that I am trying, etc. Any thoughts on this? I will have to sign a waiver for him to speak to them. He would be saying I have PTSD and would give them a crash course on how that would impact my academic performance and why I am not getting enough help yet because of other constraints, etc. So far, I am okay with this. Because of how much you all have shared about this, I feel much more composed about it.

At this point, I see graduating being more of a plea bargain than anything if I don't become good at jumping through hoops like a prized show dog. Imma be a jack russell terrier if I have to.

 

[OKRADLAK]

Kudos, Teller for NOT GIVING UP! You are an inspiration. If I ever go back to school........

Let me ask----how can DSS services help with PTSD? WHen I was in school, all the had services for were like private area to take tests or tutors. Nothing of use to me with PTSD.

I guess it helped to be able to take a few classes instead of full course....................