Hope for College

[emmalily]

This is just something I found that made me feel a little better about my chances of completing school. The hope, obviously, is that PANDAS can be fixed before going off into the world, but this is a good option too. Thought you all might like to read.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32863895/ns/he...re_health_news/

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/11/08/chronic

http://snl.depaul.edu/WebMedia/StudentReso...CIIhandbook.pdf

 

An excerpt from the "Inside Higher Ed:“One of the biggest problems [students] have because of the nature of chronic illness is this waxing and waning problem. They may start the term feeling they can manage it and a couple of weeks in they have a relapse or a hospitalization,” says Lynn Royster, the director of the initiative. Students come to the program – which can be completed entirely online or on campus (or through a combination) – with a whole range of conditions, including cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, fibromyalgia, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

But, Royster says, “Almost all of them have the same kinds of needs. And almost all those needs are not met by traditional disability offices, because what [chronically ill] students have is the unpredictability.”

 

Traditionally, a disabilities officer will work with a student at the beginning of a semester to figure out what accommodations will be needed – a note taker or books on tape, for instance, Royster explains. “With our students, it changes all the time. We get an occasional request for a reader, but most of our requests arrive because a student has fallen behind or had a relapse.”

 

Sidenote: Dr. K is in Chicago, too.

[Mary M]

So reassuring to know that there are options to help during the college years. Emmalily, I'm hoping you and my daughter (someday) will be well enough to not need such services but I'm glad there will be a program in place if need be. Thank you for sharing this...

[MomWithOCDSon]

Thanks for this, Emmalilly. Our DS13 is several years away from college yet, but we're already talking about what he wants to study, where he might like to go, whether he will be ready to live away from home or not, etc. We're in the Chicago area, so it's great to know this option is essentially at our doorstep! Now, if the Tuition Fairy would just pay a visit at some point in the next 4 years . . . . .