I spent only 3 weeks in uni (Cambridge University) last October as I had a relapse (I suffer from paranoid schizophrenia) and ended up in Fulbourn Hospital (a psych hospital). I stayed there for two weeks and the doctor said that there is no chance that I could return to Cambridge as I had missed too many lectures.
So I was sent home and ever since then I've been at home doing f*ck all.
Cambridge University said that I can return in October 2009; they're saving a place for me.
They asked me what sort of support I want for both my paranoid schizophrenia and my Asperger's syndrome.
What support can I get considering I have organisational problems and I neglect myself a lot (such as self-care) as well as having psychotic symptoms. I also have significant problems with handwriting and my meds slow me down quite a lot (I had extra time in my a-levels, but I am serioulsy considering asking for extra time and a computer for my uni exams).
Taking into consideration my symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia (look them up on the internet if you don't know) and my Asperger's syndrome, what extra support am I entitled to?
I had quite a lot of support at school post-diagnosis.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
From my university I have a mentor, mental health advisor and note-takers.
You will need to apply for DSA as thats how these extra things are funded. Note-takers can be useful if your concentration is poor due to hearing voices. A mentor could be really useful, especially if you struggle in social situations, they can meet up and go along to things such as any society you might want to join. They are also someone who you can sit down with and plan your week, like what work you will do and when etc. They can also come with you to see lecturers should you be having problems etc. Mental health advisors liase with your GP and psychiatrist and any academic support you have, they also talk you through how you are coping and help you find strategies to manage better, if they feel you are really struggling they can arrange emergency psych appointments.
You would probably qualify for special exam arrangements too if it would be helpful for you. For example I take my exams in a small room (less than 20 students rather than the huge 500 seater exam halls) and I am allowed 15 minutes of break per hour where I can get up and walk around.
I'm sure there are plenty of different support systems available at universities, but these are the ones I have personal experience of.
From my university I have a mentor, mental health advisor and note-takers.
You will need to apply for DSA as thats how these extra things are funded. Note-takers can be useful if your concentration is poor due to hearing voices. A mentor could be really useful, especially if you struggle in social situations, they can meet up and go along to things such as any society you might want to join. They are also someone who you can sit down with and plan your week, like what work you will do and when etc. They can also come with you to see lecturers should you be having problems etc. Mental health advisors liase with your GP and psychiatrist and any academic support you have, they also talk you through how you are coping and help you find strategies to manage better, if they feel you are really struggling they can arrange emergency psych appointments.
You would probably qualify for special exam arrangements too if it would be helpful for you. For example I take my exams in a small room (less than 20 students rather than the huge 500 seater exam halls) and I am allowed 15 minutes of break per hour where I can get up and walk around.
I'm sure there are plenty of different support systems available at universities, but these are the ones I have personal experience of.
Thanks Heidi Tiger.
I did apply for DSA last year but I'll probably have to apply again.
I will make a note of all of this so that when they ask me what sort of help I need, I'll be able to tell them.
This post is really helpful Heidi, thank you.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
Note takers would be useful, you can have extra time in exams, extended deadlines. Even things like dictaphones to record lectures or revise with, a comptuer etc.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I've literally only just gone through the DSA assessment process, though I@ve had the support in place for a while (except the mentoring) so if you have any more questions about it feel free to PM me.
Forgot to mention I've had library support aswell as I get very anxious and paranoid in there. They showed me around and if I'm really bad they will get books for me rathr than me having to find them. Also I only use the science and engineering library, even though some of my books are in the main library, but there is an interlibrary loan system where they will send you the books to the library of your choice if you are classed as a "disabled student", that might be useful for you aswell.
Thanks Heidi and Control Freak, that's very helpful.
I remember my uni also saying that they would pay for printing paper if I couldn't write and hence needed to print out all my notes etc.
I will bookmark this thread so that when I do eventually get to uni, I'll know what to say to them.
I know that when I was at school, I had quite a lot of support and it really helped me get through sixth form.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
I work in the disability service of a university so I know quite a bit about how it works, don't you worry yourself, they'll do everything they can to help and hopefully you'll get some lovely people to work with you. Any questions you have or anything, send them my way and I'll try and answer them.
Usually they do an initial assessment where they ask all kinds of questions and check out what the student needs, as obviously it's different for everyone depending on the disability, and then take it from there. There's a fair amount of money available for things like technological support and staff support, and it's paid by taxes so don't feel bad about it, you won't be taking resources from other students or anything!
It's really good to hear you're giving it another shot, well done!
xxxxxxx
How could you become as awesome as you are and still feel like a loser?
I get a mentor and a mental health advisor. I also get 25% extra time in exams in a small room and an extra 2 week extension on written assignments. I know of people who get rest breaks in exams, or can take exams on a computer, or have a scribe. At most uni's you can really get alot of help for mental health problems, all you have to do is ask about it.
Wake me up before I change again
Remind me the story that I won't get insane
Tell me why it's always the same
Explain me the reason why I'm so much in pain.
I haven't read all the replies sorry but I am struggling tonight. But at my uni I know there is someone who gets a support worker. and other students take him to class etc. note takers are often easy to get. Speak to them, see if you could go in to see them, they can talk through DSA and what you can get with it.
Ask about psychiatrists in the are and CPN's etc that you could maybe be trasfered to? and that there would be space for you when you come cause waiting lists are awful.
Students who are like befrienders can be one of the best things. You can have a person to call who can get you support when its needed, and also just meet for coffee...
Also my pal got paid to help plan peoples days weeks etc, so they had like a study plan and things. Just helped them stay organised...
I don't know if any of that is any help...
You made up your mind to torture mine!
If you read a scar like a book, you will relise the story in which you over look
Oh also! I get a bit more time like extensions of assignments if I need it but thats something I try not to use but when I ahve been in hospital and such knowing I could get that week extra etc ment I didn't have to overstress as soon as I got out...
Extra time in exams, normally need a dr's note etc for this. Its under their disgression. But I do know people who get extra time (even a seperate room) cause of aspergers and others who get computers.
Speak to the uni, and with conformation from doctor and what you can get from DSA and what resorces the uni has or even volunteering things in the area they know of....dono if that will help....
You made up your mind to torture mine!
If you read a scar like a book, you will relise the story in which you over look
Hey,
I'm not sure what support you're allowed but just ask and see what they say. I think having extra time and a computer would be really useful. I also have extra time on my exams. I don't go to school at the moment because I also have Aspergers and things have happened which led me to have months and months off school and when I go back I have no idea what type of support I'm going to get.. so if I were you I would just ask and wait and see. Take care xx
I don't know what your school's policy is, but you might want to ask about being able to record lectures on a tape-recorder, so that you can replay them later. That way, you don't really really need notes, and if your symptoms are preventing you from paying attention in class, you can get the same information at a time when things are better for you.
And also, I agree with everything everyone else has said.
hi i suffer from depression yeh if u speak to ur student welfare officer she will be able to help u with getting the support u need. and the dsa assement to get the stuff u need was quite striaght forward i get my stuff delievered on tuesday if u need ne help with it give me a bell. how r u doing now xx
I will bookmark this thread so that when I do go to uni, I will be ready with knowledge of what's on offer.
I've got seven months left before I go to uni though.
But thanks, you're knowledge is valuable.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
i was on disability when i was at college... i was allowed to tape record my lectures even if the professor didn't allow it, because the meds wouldn't allow me to concentrate... i could've gotten a note taker (but i don't trust other people's notes, lol)... i also had a disability counselor who i could talk to if i needed help with something about school.
as for self-care, i had problems with that too... i used to have difficulty making myself shower. i just was too distracted or just didn't want to put the effort into it. but then i found how much a bath/shower would soothe me. i made it into my escape of the day rather than my chore. i started showering daily out of wanting to whereas i used to skip a day, even two days sometimes.
talk to them and see what all they offer. had i stayed longer, i would've been able to get private tutoring and taken my tests in the disability office instead of lectures if i wanted to...
I am not going back to uni until October, but I will keep a mark on this thread.
Thanks all.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
My uni were really positive when I came forward about my mental health difficulties (panic attacks and anxiety). They arranged for me to sit my exams with a smaller group and for the department to be flexible with deadlines immediately. I was assessed for DSA. This was quite a slow process and I recommend you get it done sooner rather than later as it takes many months to be assessed, get the funding and then get the equipment. The assessment is not as scary as it sounds - they ask you lots of questions about how you cope at uni and what you need to keep going. There is no question about whether you have a disability or not, it is assumed. If you have any ideas about what might be helpful to you then bring them up. I was given some mindmapping software, an eee pc (a tiny little laptop for me to make notes on out and about) and a dictaphone (to record my lectures on). I've found the dictaphone really helpful and sometime record notes onto there before typing them up when reading is hard. I also have a mentor who I meet with every week. We discuss how the course is going, prioritise what I need to do, practice oral exams and she generally calms me down! I've also found a really helpful doctor at the university health service (he recommended this site). He's been great when I've had crises and has done everything he can to help. So try to get find a good Doctor you can work with when you're at uni, you might have to try a few in the practice. Hope that's helpful - any questions feel free to ask. I'm nearly at the end of my course now and am hoping that employers are as good as uni have been!
Hey, I know this isn't really related to the original topic, but just wanted to say thanks for this thread as I'm at uni and had decided not to tell them about my mental health problems, but having read this I'm feeling more confident about telling them.
Thanks! :)
That's great - hope it goes well for you, it has for me. In the disability service at my uni they have a dedicated person for students with mental health problems. They were the first person I made contact with and they helped me sort out everything from there.
