Disability Support for Study

Mon, 12/03/2007 - 8:18pm — DJ

As I'm studying and was worried how I'd go with full time work experience placements and feeling I needed an adjustment I made contact with firstly the student counsellor at uni as I didn't have recent info on my IST/CFS related condition due to having difficulties getting treatment.

Sadly the counsellor was all lots of people get tired and don't have a diagnosis and are you sure it's not anxiety and queried why I was looking into adjustments now for a placement that won't occur for a while (it's called not leaving it to the last minute and making life difficult for everyone). I would have felt it would have been more constructive to discuss strategies with anyone complaining of debilitation fatigue of how to approach doctors to get taken seriously to get a diagnosis and treatment happening as well as offering general support and strategies for the undiagnosed.

Anyhow made contact with disability officer who was happy to accept my oldish medical evidence and was like a breath of fresh air. She had some ideas and also advised what other assistance was available and felt that now was the time to look at these issues not at the last minute when it can be too late. She also said that some people do see her only for 1 or 2 adjustments and/or a just in case scenario.

So hoping others get to have a good experience too.

Studying with ME/CFS and/or FM

Login or register to post comments
Printer-friendly version

Mon, 12/03/2007 - 11:56pm — Abbey

Disability Support for Study

Go DJ!

Dan, one of the guys on the journal team, has recently gone to uni and the support he got from the disability section was fantastic. They supplied him with an official form which he can show to the lecturers that explains he has a disability (and it doesn't say what he has so it avoids long and tiring conversations) and an MP3 voice recorder for lectures, and a copy of Dragon Naturally Speaking to help him write up his reports. On top of that, when he saw his timetable and noted that the days were strangely distributed, he went and saw a few people and got it re-jigged to something far more manageable Smiling

I was really surprised at the lengths that they went to. I said an awful lot of "wow"s Smiling

I'm really glad the disability officer helped you out DJ. Smiling

Login or register to post comments
Printer-friendly version

Tue, 20/03/2007 - 8:31pm — DJ

Disability Support for Study

Hi Abbey that's great for Dan. I've seen and heard very good things of Disability Officers at Uni and at TAFE. And I was really happy that they were flexible with the evidence I needed to produce as it is a problem with my condition like CFS to get access to adequate treatment.
For many even getting their symptoms looked into and a diagnosis is an uphill battle as many aren't treated seriously. I'm only fortunate enough myself to have a diagnosis by pure fluke so feel for those who are struggling but don't have access to these services due to no diagnosis.
So I feel very grateful for what they can offer especially as without adequate treatment I have to be careful not to aggravate the condition.
Cheers DJ

Login or register to post comments
Printer-friendly version

Fri, 27/04/2007 - 2:04pm — Rachelle

Disability Support for Study

I never knew there was this kind of support offered at universities. I basically got 2 1/2 years thru my teaching degree and had to stop as I could not concentrate or stay awake long enough to attend lectures, write essays and go on prac. It has been very disappointing for me.
Now that I know that this type of help exists, I might look to picking it back up again (now that I FINALLY have a diagnosis after at least 2 years of changing Drs).