Differences in Reasonable Accommodations Between High School and University
Hello, this is Harun. In this post, I would like to write about the differences in reasonable accommodations between high school and university. I hope current high school students, university students, and teachers will find this helpful.
When I was in high school
I attended a private high school. On the health survey form, I didn't write 'ASD,' but instead wrote the names of the medications I was taking (Concerta and Selenica), thinking that would be enough for them to understand.
However, I was never called to the nurse's office, nor did my homeroom teacher ask me about it. As for me, I was busy with club activities and attending extracurricular classes three times a week.
Then, an incident occurred. One day in my second year, an announcement suddenly came over the speakers during class saying, 'Second-year students, go to the gymnasium during lunch break,' and I panicked. I thought, 'I told that teacher (my former homeroom teacher, now the grade head) about this, so why did they forget?!' I went to the gymnasium in tears while being comforted by my friends. Also, in my third year, during an assembly (classes were remote for 1st and 2nd years due to COVID-19 measures), I asked my homeroom teacher for permission to use noise-canceling headphones because I struggle with noisy environments, but I was refused, being told, 'I don't know how the older teachers will react, so I can't give you permission.' (In my opinion, that might have been an excuse (because there had been thefts of valuables in other classes).) Well, it was tough.
I think part of the reason was that reasonable accommodations were not mandatory for private schools at the time, but only an obligation of effort. (Currently, it is mandatory for private schools as well.)
University student (currently)
After entering a private university, I wrote 'ASD' and the names of the medications I was taking on the health survey form.
The day after I submitted it, I was called on the dedicated portal, 'We have some questions, could you come to the nurse's office during your free period?' I headed to the nurse's office wondering, 'What could it be? Was there something wrong with my form?' There, I was asked various things (such as what kind of accommodations I had received in the past), and I told them, 'In high school, even when I talked about my traits, the teachers would just forget about them...'
Then, the staff member said, 'I see. It must have been hard for you until now. But you can hold a conversation, so I don't think there will be a problem, but is there anything you are struggling with?' When I said, 'I'd like to hear about the support office for the future,' they connected me to the office for reasonable accommodations, which brings me to where I am now. (I plan to write about the details later.)
Summary
I think we live in a world now where there is a lot of consideration for reasonable accommodations. If you are worried about reasonable accommodations, why not try consulting with the school nurse or your homeroom teacher?