How disability accommodations supported my educational journey

For students, it’s back-to-school season with the recent start of the fall semester. I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at a young age, so I’ve carried this disease with me throughout my high school, undergraduate, and graduate education.

I often struggled to juggle my healthcare and course load. Successfully balancing the two likely would’ve been impossible without the abundant resources and academic accommodations available to me.

At the start of my junior year of high school, my vision rapidly declined because of a multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse that caused optic neuritis. I was considered legally blind.

The drastic change in both my vision and overall health prompted the creation of an individualized education program (IEP) for me. These tailored educational plans are meant to support the learning needs of students with disabilities. In Florida, where I live, parents, medical professionals, special education teachers, and a school representative work together to set goals and objectives for what a student will learn during the school year and how that can be accomplished.

My IEP allowed me to use audio and visual aids, such as a magnifier, enlarged text, recordings of lectures, books on tape, and a computer screen reader program called JAWS (Job Access With Speech). Florida’s Division of Blind Services also offered support through two itinerant teachers who helped me be mobile with the use of a sight cane, as well as helping me with the basics of Braille and test-taking methods.

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IEPs expire after high school. For college, students with disabilities can register with their school’s student disability services. But I’d experienced harsh judgment from classmates in high school, making me reluctant to register for these services at my university.

My parents and neurologist nudged me in the right direction, which provided me with accommodations, including extra time for tests, flexibility with attendance, the ability to submit assignments late, and the option to use a testing center. But my vision and overall health had greatly improved by then, so I spent the first two years of college trying to avoid using any disability services. At that point in my MS journey, I was in denial, trying to pretend my diagnosis didn’t exist.

Using the available tools

In the middle of my sophomore year of college, an active relapse affected my ability to walk and drive, and my attendance dropped. When I returned to class, I encountered problems that eventually led to me filing a grievance under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While this incident happened over a decade ago, I still remember it vividly. It was upsetting at the time, but it prompted me to improve my communication with professors. I set aside my pride and started opening up about my health, keeping professors updated when any new hiccups arose. I learned to accept the support that had been offered.

Overall, the amount of encouragement and support I received throughout my educational journey was humbling. I had amazing professors. My neurologist was instrumental in all of this, providing medical documentation, countless accommodation requests, and a few rather pointed letters pushing back against any potential discrimination. The number of times I was offered an empathetic ear, helping hand, or words of encouragement far outweighed the negative experiences I faced from a few people.

This fall will be the first time in a while that my schedule isn’t affected by a school bell. While I feel a significant sense of accomplishment for finally achieving my educational goals, the lessons I learned about acceptance, communication, and humility are even more valuable tools.

It’s bittersweet when a door closes on a major life chapter, but I’ll admit that I’m a bit relieved to no longer have to chase assignment deadlines, write papers, or face testing anxiety. I’m quite certain that my neurologist is even more relieved than I am at the completion of my long academic journey. After more than a decade of writing enough documentation to compile several books, he can finally set down his pen.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.