Interview:
I have included an interview from a deaf friend of mine (who contributed to this blog in the earlier stages) who has experienced post-secondary education first-hand. I hope that the answers to these questions will provide you with comfort in knowing that you are not alone in this big decision.
1)
What are your experiences with Post-Secondary Education? My experiences with Post-Secondary Education has been extremely varied--from the nightmare scenario to easy street. My first college -- I did graduate from a college in Florida, but I had transferred there from another college -- was the support services nightmare. I had been promised services and then, three days before the start of classes, was told that I wouldn't be receiving them after all because it would place an undue burden on the college (failure to provide services based on undue burden is legal under the ADA--it's a dirty little secret). However, after bursting into tears and much negotiation and assertion of my needs to the staff, my family and I were able to get partial services met. And thus began a full year of fighting with instead of working with the staff. I even placed a claim with the Department of Education (they investigate charges for free) and lost the case because of the legal ramifications of the college arguments and not having any documentations in writing. Ultimately, I did obtain interpreters, but not before I lost nearly a whole semester worth of information. I learned from this experience and, when I transferred, the first thing I did was to get the college to promise all services IN WRITING.My second college--and my last three undergraduate years--was a dream come true. It was as surrealistically easy and accommodating as my last college was difficult. This place was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Immediately, they provided interpreters to all of my classes,
notetakers in every class, and even offered the services for outside events as well. Also, this college offered deaf education as a major so not only there was an open, welcoming, environment for individuals with hearing losses, there were students who knew sign language and for the first time I was able to take part in the social life that has been missing in my life for so long. Currently, I am obtaining my masters and my college is somewhere between the two extremes. It has not given me any issues whatsoever regarding interpreters within the classroom or
notetakers. Also, when I requested an interpreter for an outside event it has likewise obliged. However, the openness of my last college seems to be absent. While I know I can request an interpreter, I do not always feel comfortable doing so because the college does not publicize the events well and they do not make their events readily accessible. If the college--like my previous one--added a message stating that accommodations will be provided upon request, or something similar, then the process will be easier. Despite this, I am satisfied with the services I have received and I continue to be my own best advocate. My largest issue here is the fact that I feel like I have given up the social life and the welcome atmosphere of my previous college for something much more sterile. This is not necessarily bad, it is just different.
2)
Did the school environment provide you with accommodations and modifications to make the process easier? If so, what were some of the accommodations and modifications? Yes, I have obtained accommodations and modifications throughout my college years through the disability and academic support services. All throughout my post-secondary years i have used sign language interpreters in all of my classes as well as
notetakers. I am also granted extended time on all of my tests. All of my colleges (the first one eventually did, but it wasn't easy getting them) have provided me with these three services and those are all I need to succeed academically.As a resident in the college dorms at all three colleges, I have also received other accommodations--as discussed in the health and safety interview--such as strobe fire alarms, doorbell alerts and other similar
assistive devices.
3)
Did you have a guidance counselor that assisted you in choosing a post-secondary education environment? If so, what did him/her advise? I actually did have a guidance counselor in high school who advised me in choosing a post-secondary environment. However, she merely pointed me to what types of colleges I would most probably feel comfortable at. She merely listened to me and helped me to verbalize what I was looking for in a college, but the selection process was entirely myself. I didn't really depend on her to actually choose the college but she was an invaluable resource during the application process because she helped me to make sure I had all the documentations in my file to send to the colleges.
4)
Did you have a strong support system?At my first college, I had no support system whatsoever. I was my own support system and fortunately I had the backing of my family. However, at my second college, the disability support coordinator became my "mom away from mom" in many ways. I grew very close to her (while always remaining strictly professional) and would even go to her for advice on other matters outside of classroom support. At my current college, there is a support system, but unfortunately it remains by and large invisible and is not as solid as my second college. Yet, it does not matter as much because I am taking less classes and am otherwise gearing for the career world rather than being a "college student." Additionally, I will be commuting next year.Always, I am incredibly grateful to the support I have from my family and friends. I would like to remind the readers of this blog that the support system they will receive at school may not be personal but rather very professional and rigid in nature. It does not mean the staff are not nice or don't care. Rather, they are doing their job and that is to provide you with your services (think of it as a provider-client relationship if you will). Therefore, it is extremely important to have a support system in place that will support you emotionally. Never underestimate the power of friends, family, or even professional counseling. Course, a pint of Ben and Jerry's and some movies never hurts either at the end of a really bad, draining day.
5)
What would you advise young adults who are seeking the same post-secondary education experiences as you? Oh, glory. I hope no one ever has the same post-secondary education experience that I had my first year of college. That was a nightmare. Yet, on the other hand, I hope everyone has the awesome time I had during my three years in Florida. My advice to young adults consists of three points. First, forget about your disability (be it physical, mental, or learning) for a moment and pretend you are like everyone else for a moment.... How does the college campus feel to you? Is to too large? Too small? Too isolating? Will it meet your personal growth needs? Remember, you are not there to simply gain an education--you are there to grow and mature. It has to be a place where you feel comfortable and where you can feel comfortable. In retrospect, I wasn't comfortable as a person at my first college either. Yet, the minute I stepped foot at my second college I knew that this was the place where I knew I belonged.Second, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING! I cannot stress this second point enough. To this day, I still believe that the nightmare of my first year could have been avoided by getting the promised services in writing. Because I did not have anything in writing that they promised me interpreters, my case with the Department of Education was reduced to a he said/she said scenario and I consequently lost. The unfortunate part of this situation was that while it was unjust, unfair, and immoral, it was not illegal because the college had proved that it would have caused "undue burden" (the slight loophole in the ADA). I learned from my lesson and now, every time I sit down with the disability support services, I tell them that I want everything discussed at the meeting--when they guarantee me interpreters,
notetakers, fire alarms, etc.--in writing and I want a copy in my file and in my hand. And I never had anyone refuse me. It may seem a bit over-assertive, but I feel that it also sets the tone. Everything at the meeting will have document. This way, the college cannot promise me one service and then fail to provide it while stating that I never requested for it. I don't want to make everyone paranoid or fearful that everyone will be out to
backstab them. Most places are not like that at all, but the way I see it, I'm paying the same amount of X thousands of dollars for an education as everyone else and I want to be guaranteed the access to that education. By getting my services IN WRITING, I now have a document backing the agreement reached between myself and disability support. Finally, YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST ADVOCATE. No one can provide you services until you tell them what your needs are. Post-Secondary Education is a beautiful and changing world. It is a time when you transition from childhood to adulthood. However, this also means your parents can no longer assert your needs for you. They can help you in the beginning, but ultimately, when you find something is not working right or if you need more services, you are the one who needs to speak up. Additionally, as I know from personal experience, the disability support services, while a great bunch of people, do not appreciate parents calling and saying "my son/daughter needs...." They want to work with YOU and see YOU succeed. They would prefer not to work via your parents to help you. Rather they want to work directly with you as an adult. This is the time when you learn about your own needs and to advocate for them. This is the time for you to speak up and to make your own needs heard. After all, you are the one who knows your own needs the best.
6)
If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? Believe it or not, despite everything, I wouldn't do a single thing differently. Despite my nightmare of a first-year-of-college, it was the right decision for me at the time. I was painfully insecure and not confident in my capabilities in living away from home. Even though the support services were horribly insufficient and I did not have my needs met in full in the classroom, I did have an accommodated dorm room and it was a learning experience in that it taught me that I was much more self-resilient than I thought and that I could live on my own just fine. It was a year that I needed to really grow up and mature. Had I not had that first year, I would have never had the confidence to move 1000 miles from home to attend college in Florida, where I had the best three years of my life. Also, to quote a refrain from the musical, RENT, "Forget regret / Or life is yours to miss / No other road / No other way / No day but Today!" I do not believe in regret. If I kept looking back and regretting the choices I had made, I would not be able to live my life to the fullest in the present. Yes, it was one bad year, and sometimes I wish it never happened, but it did happen and it helped to shape me into the woman I have become today. There is nothing to be gained by wishing I have done things differently because it is in the past and nothing can change that. So, no, I don't have any regrets. And I am not sorry for the experiences that I had.
7)
Did you utilize any other services that helped you make the decision to pursue a post-secondary education? I actually didn't really use any other services. I discovered my dream college the way so many people find their colleges nowadays--Online! Other than the
internet, I didn't use any other services. I always knew that I would pursue a post-secondary education because my family has always placed an enormous value on education and everything that I wanted to do required a higher degree. There really was no decision-making for me in pursuing a post-secondary education. I wanted to be a force to be reckoned with--someone that the world would pay attention to and not dismiss because I had a disability. I wanted to be a person first, rather than being identified by my hearing loss. And I wanted the opportunity to be anything my heart desired and the only way the world would be fully open to me was through higher education.
