Anyone getting accommodations in graduate school? I’m starting graduate school in two weeks. I’ve always gotten accommodations for my autism and I’ve more recently added ocd and depression to my diagnosis. I’ve been approved for them for grad school but I’m scared my professors won’t accept it. The further I get in education the more I worry people will think I shouldn’t need accommodations, and also the more I worry I’ll be the only one. I know I need them and I deserve them but what I never know is how other people will react to it.

Unfortunately I, and others I know with disabilities, have run into plenty of educators who don’t understand. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve only met a few bad apples, but I know people who’ve had to switch schools entirely in middle or highschool because none of their teachers got it. Not saying all teachers are bad, I love teachers and a good teacher can make a world of a difference. I’ve also had plenty of amazing teachers some of whom changed my life. But ableism in schools is a real thing that people with disabilities worry about and face. And it’s scary because until you talk to a teacher you just don’t know what they’re gonna be like.

@Nikki1809 I'm so sorry to hear that. I would hope that at the university level, where those profs have doctorates and masters degrees themselves, they are better equipped. As someone who went school to be a teacher, I know some bad apples get through and I'm really sorry you've had to deal with them

@catattak Yeah. Ableism is a systematic problem in schools. I don’t think I know a single disabled person who hasn’t had bad experiences at school. But, on the other hand, my school guidance counselor in middle school made me who I am today, and I had plenty of professors who saved my life when I had to go to the mental hospital for a week one semester. Luckily I study psychology and so most of them understand psychological disorders. Idk it’s just scary going to a new school and not knowing. I had an experience once where someone wanted to take away my IEP because I was “too smart” for it and I think now I worry other people will think like that.

@Nikki1809 You can always escalate these situations. I now work at a college and going to Dean's and Chairs should give you traction. But I dont want you to doomsday plan. Just know that if something happens like that you have options

@catattak Yeah. The lady at the accommodation center seemed really nice she said basically if anyone gives me trouble I can reach out to her.

@Nikki1809 Sounds like shes a good contact to keep :). It will be sucky if you have to have this confrontation with a prof but I believe they are more professional

@catattak Yeah. Luckily I major in psychology so these are people who study psychological disorders and should hopefully be understanding.