...is difficult. I don't know how others handle it, but I struggle every day all day to do some of the simplest of tasks that should be easy for the normal person.

I'm in college. Day starts off by riding the public transportation (bus) to school and walking down the road to the campus. Loud noises, beeps, high pitched sounds and all the stops and starts when I'm half awake really get me uncomfortable. Then I'm at college itself...Small building, lots of people. Lots of noise, bright lights, unfamiliar everything. I hate steps and I hate the elevator, but I have to go upstairs and downstairs at least 4 times a day. I use both hands to brace myself going down the stairs, sometimes when no one is looking I get down on all fours.

I have only two classes, because I knew that I'd get stressed with more.
As it is, I'm spending over 3 hours a day in the school computer lab, which thankfully isn't that bad because I'm given headphones and internet to block other things out.

Math class, my first class, is difficult. Not really the material, but how I get that material itself is hard. I've always got my head down on my arm, even if I'm writing and taking notes. Not that I'm tired, just my head always feels heavy or floating even.

Then computer lab for 3 hours, upstairs. I tend to drift in and out of focusing on my work during those three hours unless I'm working on hard math work. But it isn't so bad overall, it's quiet but not too quiet, and I've got music on loud enough to keep me going.

Then english, which is very annoying. I have a speech problem I believe, because I stutter and slur and stumble over my words easily- even if I know what word I'm trying to say, and how to say it. I can't get it out half the time. I also have trouble controlling the tone of my voice, and the volume level. I end up yelling without meaning to, or sounding really monotone when I'm excited. My grade is partially based on class participation, so I can't escape not speaking. >.< I usually leave English exhausted, frustrated and upset. but then I get to go home, where I can unwind. I usually have to strip of everything but under clothes, because my skin feels like it's on fire by then.

The only way I can cope lately is just knowing that I can go home after my two classes. Sometimes I try to draw while I'm in class, to keep my mind off of everything, but I can't focus on class while I'm drawing. I'm kinda at a standstill. This semester ends next week, but I need to take more classes next semester. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it though?

Does anyone have any suggestions, or any experiences with school that they can share? I've been out of school for 2 years, the beginning transition was rough but I feel like I'm still going through it.

Chewing gum helped me through High School and College. The bans on gum in K-12th grade horrify me because I would have never made it without it.

As for public speaking goes, practice in front of a mirror. I found that helped to lower my stutter problems. I also found that if I could sit during giving a presentation I was much less likely to fall, freak out, forget what I was saying, paralyze, stutter...

If you participate once per class time then that is usually more than enough to get the "participated in class" vibe with a Professor. Just try to think about areas where something is confusing you and then ask a question about it.

Are you sitting in the prime location of your classes for you? I have found that I have a specific area of any given class that is optimal to my learning due to visual and auditory problems. Usually about 6 seats in any given class. If I don't get one of those seats my learning is impaired.

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I have a Masters in Computer Engineering, so I have spent more than my fair share in classes.

I've tried chewing gum, but that's one of the few things where the texture and taste just becomes too much for me. I've tried candy and stuff but that gets to be expensive >.<

I don't think I'm allowed to sit during the presentation, as much as I'd love to. I can't really see over the class's heads cuz I'm short, so I've gotta stand anyway :/ But I'm going to be making a slide show presentation to try and take their attention off of me, and onto the slide show.

I sit near the front of the class, but I hate it here. Class ends next week, so I'm just going to tough it out for the last week and then make sure next time I don't sit in the front. :/ Do you have any suggestions to where to sit? I can't find the "perfect" place, I'm either sitting directly beneath a light or in front of the projector, or I can't see, or I'm underneath an air vent.

For me the best locations are off center by one or two seats, second to fourth rows from front (only second to third rows in a small room), never on a wall, and never under an air vent.

I show up to classes that first day early and try out the different seats until I find one visually comfortable. I too am short, but thankfully few people like sitting in the first row so the second row works out.

Go to your professor and ask if it would be OK if you could sit in front of the class while giving your presentation. Let her know you are having problems with standing and speaking simultaneously. Be detailed in how it causes you a problem.

(10-17-2010, 03:56 AM)beck7422 Wrote: For me the best locations are off center by one or two seats, second to fourth rows from front (only second to third rows in a small room), never on a wall, and never under an air vent.

I show up to classes that first day early and try out the different seats until I find one visually comfortable. I too am short, but thankfully few people like sitting in the first row so the second row works out.

Go to your professor and ask if it would be OK if you could sit in front of the class while giving your presentation. Let her know you are having problems with standing and speaking simultaneously. Be detailed in how it causes you a problem.

I tried asking my professor about the sitting instead of standing, but he basically just dismissed it because it would be "unfair to other students". :/ I'm going to just bring index cards and a fidget item, like a coin or something, so I can try to let my anxiety out on that. and I'm going to take a break after, making sure to go outside and get away from everything to calm myself down. after i finish my presentation i have no need to be in class anymore, so hopefully i can leave. x_x I'm already so nervous and I have until thursday to wait. Dx

Just how would it be unfair to the other students if you were to give your presentation sitting down, but still in front of the class?

You are actually putting yourself at the disadvantage because it is impossible to project your voice as much while sitting as you can while standing.

(10-19-2010, 02:43 AM)beck7422 Wrote: Just how would it be unfair to the other students if you were to give your presentation sitting down, but still in front of the class?

You are actually putting yourself at the disadvantage because it is impossible to project your voice as much while sitting as you can while standing.

Yeah, I dunno. My prof is kinda weird and mean about some things, often. x-x But I did notice that those who had a presentation powerpoint were able to use the computer chair to control the computer, since he doesn't have a clicker thingy. So...advantage to me, I can probably use that to sit for the majority of the presentation :3 Just gotta do a lot of eye contact, which i'm horrible at. x.x I'll keep you updated, thank you for all the advice :3 A lot of it is things I've never thought of before

(10-18-2010, 01:20 PM)Sila Wrote: he basically just dismissed it because it would be "unfair to other students". :/

This is never a valid argument for a basic accommodation. I'm sorry, but it just isn't, and I think we've all heard this used on us before. A lot of people seem to define the word 'fair' as being "everyone gets the same." However, is that truly always fair? Is it fair to the kid in a wheelchair when the school won't put in ramps, barring that kid from the school? Of course not. That's actually illegal.

I believe the definition of the word 'fair,' to be more along the lines of "everyone gets what he or she needs to succeed." It's not about everyone 'getting the same,' it's about everyone getting the same opportunity.

I don't find the accommodation you are asking for to be at all unfair to anyone. The other people in that class don't have the same disabilities as you do, so they don't have nearly the level of challenge that you do. If your teacher truly wanted to be 'fair,' he would set it up so that everyone has the same level of challenge based upon their individual needs. Making one student suffer a ton of extra hardship or work just based upon their disability is very wrong, and it really is genuinely unfair to the student.

He just doesn't want to deal with extra hassle if he believes he doesn't have to. Getting documentation from the school on special needs that you have will serve to really help you on this front in the future. Since your disability isn't visible, you generally get no support from people like this unless you fight for it effectively.

I know your semester is almost over, so it's likely you'll have to just bare it this one time. In the future though, I would seek some form of accommodation from the school. Some even offer evaluations, accommodations, and tutoring for free. I would certainly recommend looking into it.

Don't let people use the 'not fair for the rest argument,' because the rest don't struggle with the same things you do. You need to get an equal opportunity (isn't that what this nation is about?).

Dan I agree with you, an I"m sure that I'm not the only one in the class who has some sort of sensitivity or disability. The problem is most people are afraid to speak up, and once you do speak up you're opt to get shot down and denied- like what happened to me. That then keeps others from speaking up too :/

I've only got 2 more days of class until I'm out until January, so I'm just going to tough it out the best I can. Whether that means fumbling my way through the presentation with my speech, or acing it, I can't tell. Anxiety makes my issues 10x worse, but I made my slide show nice and calm, just black background with white text and simple fade ins for effects. I've got index cards to use, both as a reading tool and for me to fidget with to try and reduce some of my nervousness. I also plan on including a 3 min video before I start...so that'll take the attention off of me and onto the slideshow, hopefully.

I'm going to be looking into getting help for a variety of things this winter, my speech problems and sensory issues included. If I can reduce the intensity that they effect me, then I can get through difficult or unaccommodating classes a bit easier. I already plan on getting sound canceling earbuds.

Sad thing is my high school, as much of a hell it was, was more accommodating than college. x.x high school would let me take a walk outside if i needed to get out, and I was allowed to sit, or turn the lights off, etc.

*hugs all*

Edit: While I'm not allowed to sit down during the presentation, I am allowed to bring my boyfriend in the room to help keep me focused a bit better and stuff :3 So, hopefully that'll help. X3

Well presentation today, I brought along a small rubber band for a fidget item, some index cards to read off of and I've got my powerpoint all set up. I'm working on the video presentation at the start of it, just gotta clip a few pieces of the movie out and Im' good.

Hoping I can do this without getting too anxious. <3 Will report back after class!
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Scored an 88 on the presentation. >.< Not bad I guess, but I really stuttered a lot and mispronounced things. my voice was really shakey too :/ wish I could've done better, but I did what I could I guess.