Register disabled student not getting support

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Well I'm studying Applied Psychology, so the lecturers should at least have a good idea of what I need.

I wouldn't be leaving on a matter of principle, it would be because I can't get through without the assistance I need. It's sad cause I'm more than capable of passing this course. I'm just unwell at the moment and need support.

Nenen

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Well I'm studying Applied Psychology, so the lecturers should at least have a good idea of what I need.
I wouldn't be leaving on a matter of principle, it would be because I can't get through without the assistance I need. It's sad cause I'm more than capable of passing this course. I'm just unwell at the moment and need support.

Sorry to hear you are unwell. Hope things improve for you soon. Are you taking your meds properly?

At the risk of sounding boring, please contact the person who did your needs assessment and ask their advice on how to get the help you need and are entitled to. They were brilliant for my dd when her uni and our county council (who were supposed to provide her with aids) were hopeless! They even got the uni to backdate her one-to-one support in her second year so that she regained all the help she'd lost out on due to their incompetence in her first year.

I quite agree with PPs re how hopeless most university lecturers are at recognising and providing for many disabilities... I think the point about them sailing through the system themselves and therefore being completely ignorant and lacking empathy is very apt (and I'm a teacher so I know how guilty I and many of my colleagues have been of doing that in the past). Nothing like having a disabled child myself to make me reassess my attitudes and beliefs!

As for applied psychology lecturers being any better at understanding anything... don't make me laugh! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I get furious :mad: just thinking about all the psychology lectures I went to on the subject of learning that completely contradicted everything they said... e.g. adults cannot concentrate and learn for longer than 20 mins at a time (2 hour long lecture on that subject) humans learn better using multisensory techniques (lecturer droning on without even a single visual aid)!

Please do try again with getting help. Alongside the needs assessor, can you get the GP or consultant on the case? Is there a student counselling service who can help?
Best of luck and hope you get the support and feel better soon.

Oldernotwiser

But you still haven't said what sort of help you want the university to supply. If you told us this we might be better able to suggest ways that they could provide it.

(I've suffered from depression myself and luckily always felt that the studying itself helped my condition. I'm sorry it's not the same for you. However, I can't think of any assistance a university could have offered me that would have helped my condition. That's why I'm interested in finding out what you feel would help YOU.)

studentphil

If things like exam arrangements and changes in deadlines aren't in place you need them in place ASAP and if they aren't then you have grounds to have all your work upgraded.

studentphil

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But you still haven't said what sort of help you want the university to supply. If you told us this we might be better able to suggest ways that they could provide it.

(I've suffered from depression myself and luckily always felt that the studying itself helped my condition. I'm sorry it's not the same for you. However, I can't think of any assistance a university could have offered me that would have helped my condition. That's why I'm interested in finding out what you feel would help YOU.)

Having a room on your own away from the exam hall is a common thing for mental health issues, however, places aren't keen on giving it as it costs a lot of money and they lack rooms.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

No deadlines have been in place, my exam concessions haven't been looked at. I need someone who I can rely on to inform lecturers that I'm unwell, instead of having to go round all of them one by one.

studentphil

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

No deadlines have been in place, my exam concessions haven't been looked at. I need someone who I can rely on to inform lecturers that I'm unwell, instead of having to go round all of them one by one.

That's a huge failure on their part but it doesn't surprise me. Your disability department should really advocate for you, so going there should be your first point of contact.

dmg24

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

No deadlines have been in place, my exam concessions haven't been looked at. I need someone who I can rely on to inform lecturers that I'm unwell, instead of having to go round all of them one by one.

With respect to telling lecturers, I was quite blunt with mine. I just sent round an email to them all, copying in the (useless) disability blokey, and put something along the lines of:

'As you may be aware, I have a mental health condition. As such, my needs have been assessed, and the following adaptations recommended:

* extra breaks as required
* notes/ handouts to be emailed prior to classes
* concessions made for missed classes

I would be grateful if you could assist me, in ensuring that the above adaptations are available in your lectures.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me, or useless disability blokey'.

A few people asked questions, a few simply replied and said thank you for your email. In the majority of cases, the adaptations happened with minimal fuss. Ironically, the main case where they did not happen was in the course leader's classes.

I know it is the last thing you need, but you are probably going to be best to contact everybody yourself, as the people that should be helping are clearly useless.

What I would do is look at the list of recommendations, and then write down by each one who you need to tell (lecturers, examinations officer etc). Then email each one (means you have it all in writing, in case they fail to act).

PM me if you need anything x

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks for the latest replies.

Yes, unfortunatly the disability advisor is totally clueless when it comes to mental health. This is so not helpful. I have since emailed the year tutor and informed him of my ill health and have stated that my partner will be dealing with all correspondance until I'm able to deal with it myself.

I will do what you have advised dmg24, sounds like a very viable option.

wilf55

my daughter has just been awarded high rate care low rate mobility she is at college anyone know what she is entitled to mental health issues agoraphobia anxiety etc etc thanks