Academic Accomodations in College?

[gardencream]

*I posted this in Parents Helping Parents but received no answer*

My daughter who has type 1 is going away for college in the fall. Can she request academic accommodations from college/professors (i.e. permitted to check bg and eat in class AND during exams, be given extended time/break during exam if she is experiencing a ‘low/high’ or be allowed to take the text/exam at another time…). Is this a common practice in college? What are the other accommodations I can request? Are there any sample requests I can use?

[munchkingirl]

In college typically there isn't the same restrictions for checking blood sugars and taking insulin and the like in class. Most instructors follow the rule that - these are now adults, not little children -. However, you will want to get under the Disabilites act. I really didn't want to do this when I started college - becasue I don't think of this as a disability for me. But, I found that if you don't do this and a test day comes around - you may sick with high blood sugars and ketones and need to not be there - or you miss a few classes because of this - the teachers will NOT excuse this UNLESS you're under the disabilities act. Also, some collges don't allow a refridgerator in your dorm room - and being registered under this will allow that as well, for snacks and juice and things that diabetics must keep on hand. Some colleges will make extra accomodations for a diabetic - such as putting their dorm room near the nurses station, and the refridgerator, as i just said. You will definitly want to look into the disabilities thing - because it will allow extended time/break during exam if she is experiencing a ‘low/high’ or be allowed to take the text/exam at another time… these things to be able to be done.

I hope this helps a little bit at least. I'm sorry you've not been very successful in getting info on this. It is rather a scary time and stressful one too. Let us know how it all goes!

Bethany