I've just gotten back to uni after an exchange last semester. I was diagnosed as ADD over the summer, so this the first chance I've had to talk to dissability services. Two weeks ago I had my first meeting, and it went okay, but really didn't get anywhere. I have recieved test accommodations, and I would like a tutor, but they don't want to give me one. I went back today, and I was in and out in 5 minutes. I was passed over, and the things the lady said she would do 2 weeks ago, she's said she'll do them now. I am getting very frustrated, and upset by this. Does anyone know what they legally are obligated to give me? I'm up in Canada. It almost seems it would be easier on me just to give it up, because my mood really influences how I do in class, on tests and all that, and the disability center really isn't helping that at all... if not making it worse!!!

Talk to your teachers in private in the meantime. Maybe they will give you the accommodations without the formal paperwork. Give it a shot! What do you have to loose?

I empathize. My own Univ. was pretty poor with accommodations.

Usually before the term starts, you'd have a mtg with the Special Needs Office and give them a copy of your Testing Report, so they can start a file for you.

snow pirate,
by law the college has to give you accommodations.
go to the disability office and speak with another person, take along your papers of your diagnosis. That is all they need.

I recieve accommodations here are a few

taping class
sitting in the front
200% for test and quizzes
a quiet place for test that is distraction free
notetaker
notes, overhead handouts, powerpoints from the instructor given to me before class.

Okay those are a few
If you go to www.google.com (http://www.google.com) you can put in accommodations for college students and tons of links will pop up.

Hope you can get more, if not go to the person in charge of the disability office and talk to that person. Alway go to the head of that department , that is were you get results.

Hi! I am a teacher and for the 1st time I am breaking down and asking for accommodations. Scared? You bet! But the law is behind me and I am so desparate I don't care anymore and if they give me grief-I have some well thought out responses that are polite but forceful and and very self-empowering.

Go to the disability services office and get the info you need-then complete all documents-you need them-don't suffer like I have. Please! Let us know what happens.

Good for you RADDmom
You are entitled to the Accommodation
by the law.

print out some infromation from www.wrightlaw.com (http://www.wrightlaw.com)
for job accommodation.

I had a professor who didnt want me to
tape his class, he is also a author . he spoke
to the disability office and the law is behind me too.
He told me he has to let me tape class because it is the
law and he does want to go against the law.

I reassured him that my recording get deleted as soon
as I am done using them for my note. I use a digital recoreder
and I love it.

give them a link or print out the papers that say you are
by law entitled to these accommodation as a teacher / employee.

let me know how it went.

At the risk of saying something unpopular, I think these accommodations are a bad idea. If you're smart enough to get into college, you can take the tests just like everyone else. I assure you, you'll get no accommodations after you graduate. At least not in this country.

Sargon, getting into college and getting through college is not the same thing.

I got in on very high grades, but I do struggle now, and I know I'm smart.

Accomodations in the workplace might not be easy to obtain, but they do exist.

I got into college ... and got through college ... long before I had ever heard of ADD. The only way you'll be entitled to accommodations in the US is if you qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act ... and that's a hell of a label to saddle yourself with at such a young age.

Good for you that you got through college without accomodations or even knowing about ADHD, but for those who struggle in college due to ADHD and know about it don't you think it's better to use their rights to accomodations than to drop out altogether?

snow pirate, how are things going for you?

At the risk of saying something unpopular, I think these accommodations are a bad idea. If you're smart enough to get into college, you can take the tests just like everyone else. I assure you, you'll get no accommodations after you graduate. At least not in this country.
I think that this post is one of the craziest things I've ever heard of in my life. (Not speaking directly to or about Sargon, but to the post that was sent)It's bad enough that just about everybody here has a disorder that limits them in one way or another; so colleges should have no problems with giving accomodations to ADHD people.Even for non-ADD people college can be rather difficult. Especially when dealing with college professors.

Yes, I do believe it takes hard work to get into college, but it takes even harder work to stay there. Tons of people get admitted to college, but how many of them actually stick it out. If ADHD college students have a different way of how their brains are wired from birth, then who is it hurting if professors allow a student to tape lectures,give extra time on exams, or anything else that's needed for them to succeed. It's not as if ADHD students are asking for the exam answers or blantantly asking for better grades or anything.

Just how their are handicap ramps for wheelchair bound people to make life easier for them, so should it be for ADHD students to get accomodated in order to get ahead despite their disorder.As far as the "not getting accomodations after a person graduates" comment, you can't really compare college and the real world like that.
Let's be honest here, when someone gets a career, it's not the same as studying for a test, taking exams, not getting enough sleep, having to stay put to listen to one person talk for hours,etc. When working in a career, life is usually not as stressfull for most people as college is.Their is more flexibility after you graduate.

So for anyone else needing accomodations to get ahead in college, do what it takes to get them, because in the long run it's your future not anyone else's

Yolanda

Sargon,

ADD is not the only reason people need accommodations. There are other like me who have learning problems due to a primary disability.

The accommodations help us acheive to are fullest potential and not become so frazzled as we would be with out them.

Also some of us didnt learn studyskill when we were younger because they didntn teach that in the 60 or 70s. Students were just told you had a Learning problem, but you wernt tested like they do today.

you can also receive accommodations outside of college and for the jobs. Also one care receive them for taking a test to pass for a licensure. I hope this clears things up.

OH by the way it is easier to get into a college than it is to pass the classes. and I am smart, too. I cant believe it when I transefered my gpa is a 2.8 almost a 3.0 wow. I might make the deans list wouldnt that be a hoot.

I graduated college with a 3.2 GPA and graduated law school in the top 25 percent of my class with ADD, chronic insomnia, and a full-time job. Oh, and I passed the bar by more than 20 points. Damn, I guess I forgot to see myself as "disabled."

Sargon, just because you could do that it doesn't mean that everybody can.

Not being able to pull off what you did doesn't mean a person can't try to be successfull in college with whichever means necessary including accomodations.

You're neither better nor worse than the person who got through college using all available help.

It's not about who can keep the head above water for the longest time with weights tied to their feet. Nothing about being a hero and tough it out.

Let's get back to snow pirate's question:

I've just gotten back to uni after an exchange last semester. I was diagnosed as ADD over the summer, so this the first chance I've had to talk to dissability services. Two weeks ago I had my first meeting, and it went okay, but really didn't get anywhere. I have recieved test accommodations, and I would like a tutor, but they don't want to give me one. I went back today, and I was in and out in 5 minutes. I was passed over, and the things the lady said she would do 2 weeks ago, she's said she'll do them now. I am getting very frustrated, and upset by this. Does anyone know what they legally are obligated to give me? I'm up in Canada. It almost seems it would be easier on me just to give it up, because my mood really influences how I do in class, on tests and all that, and the disability center really isn't helping that at all... if not making it worse!!!

I just googled this from Carleton University:

"Academic accommodation policies are one of the ways in which the University implements its Educational Equity Policy and its commitment to sections 11 and 17 of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which requires the University in the provision of services (including education) to accommodate individuals on human rights grounds to the point of undue hardship considering the cost, outside sources of funding, if any, and health and safety requirements, if any."

From this I infer that if you're in Ontario, the Ontario Civil Rights Code has your answer. If you're elsewhere, then whatever your province's analogous document is, probably has the answer.

Sargon,
I dont think you are getting the point everyone here is trying to make.

Accommodation are helpful to those of us with ADD of other disabilities that make it hard in college.

Okay we know you can do it, you have told us more than once. Do you think you are superior to us

Some of us need alittle help, and I am thankful for being able to have my accommodations. So lets settle down. Okay.:eyebrow: :foot: :soapbox: :eyebrow:

I'm still having a hard time with the disabilities office. I'm getting such a run around from everyone. One person will say they'll do this, then I'll check back and they'll say that I'm suppose to it. And on and on it goes. How do you deal with it?

I had all my documentation in to them by October. I wasn't here, but we had a bit of e-mail communication, so I expected them to have things at least partially started, but nope.

The main lady that I've talked with, she's always telling me to stop by anytime, or e-mail with any concerns, so I did, and I got an e-mail back asking me what my concerns were. It was like "uhhh... did you actually read all the way through the e-mail?"

What do you know about student advocacy groups?

I think if you got a lawyer, your problem would disappear in about 5 minutes.

I dont see my self as disabled, I just have learning differences. We all learn in different ways and paces. I am glad you did so well, but you can't expect that all people are like you in life or you will get burned.

I just transfered to a college and that is my GPA at the present time.

Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

The disability office is suppose to the office to give you accommodations.

I would then go above their head and talk to the dean. Tell him or her that you have not recieve the proper accommodations.

Let me ask are you in a public or private school?

I'm in a public school. The friday before reading week, they handed me forms to fill out and bring back to me. About all I can understand to fill out is my name and address. I've gotta go back and get them to help me. Why wouldn't they just e-mail me and ask me to make an appointment to fill these out with them, instead of emailing me and asking me to come pick them up? It seems like all the time if it's not one thing with them, then it's another. I've really more or less given up on them, and I plan on complaining soon

If Carleton is like Queen's, you have to go in for an in person app't, after you fill out the form. Go in person to their Office & check what is happening with your app't, if at all possible.

When Staff can put a face to your name, you become harder to forget, paperwork and form-wise. :) Introduce yourself to the Receptionist, etc.

re: legal suggestion. I don't think Carleton has a Law school, but U. of Ottawa does, IIRC. Perhaps Student Legal Aid from U. of Ottawa could advise, given that you are a student?

Carleton does have a law department and I could get tons of help in that regard if I was there, but I'm not. Our whole disabilities department is run by 3 people. The receptionist is great when she's there, but the other 2 are a totaly loss. I'm gonna go there tomorrow after class when I have time to be annoyed with their lack of everything. Thanks for the tips Queens girl

lets us know how it went. I hope you can get help to fill out the papers.