I'm Not Returning to College Campus

This semester college has returned full-time to campus, but I am unable to return to campus due to my AS and being immunocompromised during the COVID-19 pandemic. I thought: well that’s me done with college. I was so close to getting my degree and now my illness is stopping me from getting it.

Then, I thought there had to be someone else that could help me. So, I emailed the disability services in college. And what a great idea this was. I organized a call with them. On Wednesday I had an hour and a half long Zoom call with a lovely, helpful woman.

I learned that my college must accommodate me

She asked me questions about my condition, asked for my doctor and consultant letters. I shared my anxieties with her and she reassured me that by law, the college must accommodate me. Otherwise, they would be discriminating against me. She reassured me that I deserved a chance of getting my degree as much as any of my other classmates.

She asked me questions about everything relating to my condition and my life. Then, she wrote out a needs assessment form and said she would email it over to me.

Previously, I had emailed my head of department multiple times and received no response

I understand that I am a unique case, and it is something that he would have to research and think about. But an email saying something like: "I understand, I will get back to you shortly" rather than no reply at all would have really helped me and my worries.

I was amazed at how much the lady from the disability support services listened to me. Once I received her email with my needs assessment form I was in shock. I read through it and everything I said, every symptom, bad day, absolutely everything related to my illness, and my worries was written down. I felt heard and understood.

At this point, I started to feel hopeful about college

I thought: this illness is not going to stop me from getting my degree. And I was right! Well, I don’t have my degree yet, but I have the chance to!

I emailed my head of department again, this time including all my lecturers in my email. I explained my fears about returning to college, my condition, and about me being immunocompromised. I also attached the form that the amazing lady from the disability support services filled out.

Within half an hour, my head of department replied. He said that I was a genuine and exceptional case and because of my debilitating illness he is allowing me to continue my last semester online! The classes will not be recorded live so I will not be able to interact, but that’s ok.

I will be able to study from home. There will be a notetaker in class taking notes for me. All class and reading materials will be posted online for me to read, lecturers will be in contact with me regularly and one of my peers is allowed to audio record the class and send it to me.

I was about to give up. I thought that I was going to have to drop out of college. Always remember that there is more help out there than we think. Unfortunately, we need people to help advocate for us.

Fortunately, I found someone to advocate for me and help me get what I deserved!