#disability studyblr

working ever since i got accommodations has been so interesting, but so awesome.

my sleep medication makes me hella out of it in the morning, but i can't lower the dose or i'll simply not fall asleep until 4am. the accommodation for that? i don't have to have meetings before 11am. i set that time!

i have terrible brain fog, so my memory is awful. the accommodation for that? i have permission to record meetings with my advisor, and i get time to write down an action plan, send it to him, and have him say "yes, that's right."

i have intermittent nerve pain that shoots fiery electricity down my arms and into my hands, making typing difficult to impossible. my advisor gives me space when i say that i need extra time to do something because of health reasons.

there are so many other tiny things that have really added up for a more positive experience for me.

Hi fellow scholars! I’ve had this blog since 2018 but I figured it was finally time to make a studyblr introduction post. Check out below the cut to learn a bit about me.

Friday: Take a picture of the view outside your window

I have severe clinical depression (I actually consensually was checked into a psych ward last year; if you have any questions about the experience, don’t hesitate to ask! I’ll reply to anons too), which is an accepted disability by the social security administration 

(given severe impairment of daily function)

I also have severe anxiety, another accepted condition (given the same severe impairments)

I also have ASD, the milder end that used to be called Asperger’s in the US, but not severe enough to require any accommodations I think 

In addition to the brain fog, memory issues, fatigue, and general executive dysfunction that these disorders can-and-do combine to cause, my treatment plan involves drugs that contribute horribly to the same 

I’m considering asking my therapist and my psychiatrist to help me get accommodations from the school. I’ve been wondering what they would look like, and I’ve found some that I think are reasonable: 

Attendance forgiveness (for classes where missing sessions will bring your grade down significantly): for days with the worst fatigue, or when I have therapy or psych appointments midday because of scheduling problems

Memory aids (bigger problem for me): receiving major feedback in writing, and maybe permission to record lectures or discussions (in my area, you can legally record a conversation as long as one party -- even you -- gives consent, but I feel like it’s rude not to ask)

Studyblr Quarantine Challenge (Week 12)

Tue - Would you rather lose the ability to lie or believe everything you’re told?

It depends how would we would define “lying,” by a statement that is not true or by a statement that is not true and not saying the whole truth. Either way, I think I would rather lose the ability to lie. Discerning truth from lies is more important to me.

Wed - Would you rather be free or be totally safe?

I’d rather be free. With my health, I’ve forgotten what it means for safety to be totally certain. Meanwhile, I’ve kept working toward freedom.

Today

I’m about to go exercise. After I exercise, I want to finish the second book of A Tale of Two Cities and do one translation exercise in my Hebrew workbook. I also want to play piano today.

seeing the ink go further & further down the barrel is extremely unpleasant (never mind TRYING TO USE THEM ALL EQUALLY SO THEY HAVE THE SAME LEVEL) and “you can just get another set when you use them up” is NOT GOOD ENOUGH

you just want to horde them in a big pile like a dragon & rub your face on them & force other people (i.e. cirkadian) to look at each one individually & confirm that it is special & beautiful