BADD: What do you need?
In winter, I made a call to the office of special services at my college, to ask for help.
Me: …and I have depression and anxiety, so I’d like to know if there’s anything you have that can help.
Phone: We can provide note-takers for you if you have difficulty taking notes.
Me: No, I don’t need help with that.
Phone: Or we can give you extra time for test-taking, in a quiet room if you would like.
Me: No, I don’t need help with that either, sorry.
Phone: Well, I tell you what, why don’t you come into the office in person, and we can give you some forms and get a better idea of what’s needed.
Me: OK. Thanks.
A few weeks pass before I make it into the office.
Me: ..and I have depression and anxiety.
Her: Would you like extra time for taking tests?
Me: No, I dont have any trouble taking tests.
Her: OK. Well, we could also get someone to take notes for you.
Me: No, I don’t have trouble taking my own notes. What I could really use is leniency on absences and late work, if I have to stay home some days.
Her: Oh…well, we don’t really do that. That has to be something that’s up to the individual professor.
Me: Oh. Umm, could you maybe mediate with my professors, like if I have to ask them for leniency?
Her: Yes! That is something we could help with. Now what you need to do is just fill out this form and get a note from your doctor, with a diagnosis on it.
shrug I guess I’m new at this whole disabled thing.
–
I had much better success with the counselor I have now. She is so worth the 100 minute trip into Redmond. At the very first meeting.
Her: So this is an initial consultation, and it’s to determine if I can help you. So why don’t you tell me what brings you here today and what you’re looking for? What’s on your mind?
seahorse said,
May 2, 2010 at 1:02 pm
It’s so hard when we don’t fit the boxes on a form, and so frustrating. You persevere and you’ll get recognition for your needs.
InfamousQBert said,
May 5, 2010 at 11:08 am
yes! i get so frustrated when people start trying to suggest things that i need, rather than taking a moment to let me get my thoughts together and tell them what i need. my fiancee does it (on, like, what do i want for a snack as well as bigger things), and i know it’s because she wants to help but it’s SO frustrating!
NTE said,
May 6, 2010 at 6:41 pm
How frustrating – having to figure out how somebody else can help you (when you are already asking for help, and they keep offering things that are not useful to you) can be one of those most complicated things! I am glad your counselor is more helpful than they were..