Academic Accomodations in College

[gardencream]

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?

[Amy C.]

I have heard of other folks concerned with this. My understanding is the accomnodations used in the public schools with the 504 plans does not apply in college. The ADA as it deals with diabetes applies to public schools, not college or the workplace. Your daughter would have to meet with each of her professors/lectors/teachers individually to request the accommodatons she would like.

I would imagine she could test in a classroom and probably take glucose tabs, but the other items would need to to setup with each teacher.

[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
Quote:
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 posted this in the teens forum as well.)

Let us know how it works out College and diabetes really isn't so bad.

Bethany

[Ellen]

My son will be attending University of Florida beginning in June. UF's ADA Office's webpage is here http://www.ada.ufl.edu/office/ada.htm. I imagine every public university/college has something similar.

ADA Office at the University of Florida
The University of Florida, under the guidelines of ADA and 504 federal legislation, is required to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical and mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.

To help provide the best possible service to students, staff, faculty and visitors, the University of Florida has an ADA Compliance Office with a coordinator responsible for access for persons with disabilities. The ADA coordinator assists anyone with questions about access.

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Additionally, after someresearch, I found an endocrinologist in the area and we have exchanged a few emails.

[gardencream]

I read the college's website and they have a disability office! However, they require you to draft up the accomodations. So other than the ones I mentioned (foods and extended time during exams...), can you tell me what are the accommodations we can request for students with diabetes?

Munchkingirl and Ellen, since both of you have been thru this, mind to share what accommodations you have requested ? My daughter has type 1 for a bit over one year and we are still quite new to this.