so none of you have a disability i take it?

well then.

i guess you won't be a getting a free laptop, free money, and the ability to drop classes after drop dates or take less classes!

i really wish someone could answer my question though. every time i call osap i'm on hold forever. i work office hours!

if any of you out there deal with anxiety, or any other mental health issue- you can join my free laptop and free money club

---

Glendon/York Universty - Specialization in Psychology
Child and Youth Worker Graduate

how do you qualify for disability if it's not a physical disability?

how do you get recognized for 'anxiety'?---i am one of the most anxious, overstressed, overworrying people i know

i hold my pen between my index and middle finger and have been writing like that for a while. WHERE IS MY EXTRA TIME DAMMIT???

my post was meant to be sarcastic actually. i function just fine with my writing abilities. nice metaphor though

I think there's a fine line sometimes between when accommodation is helpful and when it is a crutch that the person doesn't necessarily need but relies on.

I think we can all agree that there are cases such as some physical disabilities where a bit of extra time or other accommodations are worthwhile. I know someone slightly who did Honours Physics in, I believe the regular 4 years, and has gone on to do a Master's, despite having some reasonably serious physical issues (I believe caused by cerebral palsy - his movements and speech are awkward). I don't think there's any question that someone such as him should be allowed extra time because physically it's going to take him more time to get his thoughts on paper. In addition, it's not like there's much he can do to change that.

With regards to issues that aren't of a physical nature, at the high school level, for example, I'm sure there are lots of people who would tell you that a bit of extra time (or even just being in a separate room) made the difference between them dropping out out of frustration or completing high school with good enough marks to get into college or university, or perhaps the difference between barely passing and being able to get into university.

---

This is the most real post I've seen you put on here in quite some time

I have anxiety but I have also have a mental illness to go along with it! not so fun sometimes. It can really be the difference between a pass or a fail and I've found University to be extremely hard that way. You get 2 chances to pass. It drives me anziety through the roof. I've really started to put things into place for next year so that I do run into the same problems this year.

So although I was making a bit of "joke" out of the free stuff- I do require some kind of accommodation from time to time.

Because I do not have a physical disability I tend to be too proud to ask for the extra help that I need. I really have to learn to understand myself and my limitations and it can be very difficult when you're at war with your own emotions. It's also harder because no one can TELL you deal with this and they don't understand it. You want to be able to do the same things you're use to doing but you can't. A mental illness can physically disable you. Your medications can even disable you in ways! Medication may need to be tweaked now and then, and sometimes that can affect my schooling as well. Until you've walked a mile in my shoes- or any who has any kind of disability you will never know how it feels to wish it just be "that easy".

Also, sometimes you don't always get understanding teachers- and as much as you have a RIGHT for accommodation you don't always get the proper treatment. It happened to me last year and I took an F because I was publicly humiliated. I don't take that stuff lightly. I was at my lowest course load, and I chose to never to go back. I am retaking it this year.



you have to have medical documentation from physician, psychiatrist, someone who can test you for your disability etc.

I have always been a very anxious kid. i always worried a lot. University really can get overwhelming for me.

Anxiety runs high in my family and so does mental illness. It actually dates as far back as my grandmother's time!

if you think you have an anxiety disorder- look it up. You could qualify, but that would also require medication usually.

Psychiatric disabilities can get up to $2000 in services a year which can include computers, counselling, tutoring, note taking, whatever. Disability services offers you extra time for tests, and exams - as well as being able to take less classes and not lose OSAP and even petition to drop classes of F's off your transcript.

I'm a bit of a "proud" person and I tend to not take all my services that i qualify for... I really should...

This is the most I've ever talked about it on a message board.

Thanks

FUTURE ENG for making me feel comfortable

---

Glendon/York Universty - Specialization in Psychology
Child and Youth Worker Graduate