i've got the magic in me

that should disgust and enrage you.

if any other demographic of students had a 95% failure rate, we would be demanding reform and studies to understand why that’s happening

when i was at my first university, trying to get accommodations for my ADHD, they just kept asking me what accommodations i wanted, and refused to answer when i would ask what was available to me. how the Hell am i supposed to know what i can have? what’s available???? also, i don’t know!!!! i’m an adhd sufferer, not a fucking disability expert for the fucking college, unlike you, DISABILITY EXPERT WHO WORKS FOR THE COLLEGE.

but because the us is OBSESSED with making sure no one gets anything “”for free””, she literally would not tell me what my options were until i broke down in tears and asked her why she was refusing to help me. and then she did a big sigh, like i was fucking up her entire career by *checks notes* asking the disability center in my university to help me, a disabled student

at the second uni i went to, i tried to explain to a dean that i was literally two gen eds that had nothing to do with my degree away from graduating and that i was burnt out and broke and exhausted and suicidal and i just needed to be able to finish my degree without the gen eds. and this. fucking. guy. looked me right in my face and said in the most patronizing tone he could muster “if you can’t handle it, then maybe college just isn’t for you.” keep in mind that up until that semester, i had been an honor student who made Dean’s List every semester and didn’t get below Bs. if it hadn’t been for my mental breakdown, i would have graduated cum laude, maybe even summa cum laude.

The full database can be accessed here and the ADHD page is here. The full database can be filtered by disability, by limitation, by work-related function, by topic, and by accommodation. Many of these accommodations are applicable to academic settings as well as the workplace.

Here are the section headers for ADHD accommodations ideas to give an overview of what the page contains - this post would become Do You Love the Color of the Accommodation if I attempted to list them all here

Also just heard a podcast interview with a software developer who had good suggestions

I had a test scheduled where I was given extra time and a quiet room to work during test time. I wasnt sure if I needed this but since it was offered I decided to take the opportunity. Afterwards I completed the test and decided I wouldnt need to use those particular accommodations again.

I went back to class to sit for the lecture portion (the class was three hours and the test was the first half) only to get there and find the professor handing out tests. I asked him why the schedule had changed and if I had missed the lecture. He said the snow had delayed some students so he decided to have the test happen in the second half of class.

Seeing as I had gone to the testing room, I was never informed of this, so I had missed a lecture in a class where missing even one was difficult to get around, as the professor insisted everyone attend and that the required material was lecture-only, not in the textbooks.

I got the distinct impression he found my going to take the test separately a frivolous accommodation he didn't care to deal with.

I got the notes from a classmate, but I didnt end up understanding them well. I didn't go to the professor's office hours after that because my respect for him had tanked and I didnt trust him. I ended up passing the class with a D. I had done very well in the class before that point but felt so ashamed by the whole interaction I stopped answering much in class.

I had other professors who were kinder. I credit my graduating at all to the efforts of my counselor, who fit me into counseling sessions where she would sit there and body double for me while I wrote papers. She never offered my any guidance on the content or even knew what I was writing about, but she let me cry and vent all I needed and knowing she was watching and cared enough to not let me fall allowed me to do what needed to be done.

The university as an institution didn't help me. It was up to individuals whether they let me sink or swim.

as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.

on survival

EMERGENCY!!! HELP A DISABLED WOMAN GET THROUGH CHRISTMAS!!!

Sunday, December 10th: Hello everyone, I’m Gemma, a bi, mentally ill, and disabled woman in desperate need of help, as I'm struggling to pay off my debt, and get groceries for Christmas.

As most of you are already aware from my previous posts, I have been struggling financially these past few years due to COVID-19 and my welfare benefit (Universal Credit) being under continuous reviews, which is due to my worsening mental/physical health and the UK’s controversial changes to how benefits are assessed and assigned. I've tried to avoid making this post because I know Christmas is right around the corner, however, due to my utilities going out and boiler breaking down and needing emergency servicing, I've had to put my remaining money into them to keep them on, which has left me with nothing to pay this or get groceries for Christmas/New Year.

I know this is a huge ask, and I'm completely heartbroken to keep asking for help, but I still need some as I don't receive my welfare or ADP until after Christmas (December 29th) and I desperately need help.

If anyone could spare any amount to help me, it would save my life, and sharing definitely helps just as much as donations. Thank you

£0/£230!!

✨️ PayPal ✨️