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Leveling the Playing Field

When you think about it, most of us have disabilities of some sort or another. I’ve worn glasses since I was eight years old, and a couple of years ago I had cataract surgery. (My pre-surgery view of the world looked like this Monet painting.) Like you, I’m no stranger to physical problems with a classroom.

Dealing with your issues

Nobody is going to chase you down and demand that you find help. They probably don’t know that you are having trouble reading or hearing, so you must take initiative to deal with your issues.

What you can do

First, you need to figure out what kind of problem you have and how severe it is. Did you have an IEP in high school? Have you always had trouble seeing things from a distance? Then you need to take some action. Here are some places to begin:

  • Get an eye exam. There’s nothing shameful or nerdy about wearing glasses. (Harry Potter wore them, and he saved the world.)
  • Get your hearing checked. A family doctor can recommend specialists who do this.
  • Get the computer to read aloud to you.
    • Instructions for Apple computers
    • Windows computers have something called Windows Narrator, which can also read your screen to you (though the instructions are a bit more complex).
  • Contact the Student Accessibility Center. They are there to help you, whether your problem something like a broken leg or more long-lasting such as dyslexia. The SAC Website has many detailed links. Follow them up.

Two more things

The university also provides, free to you, a general health center and counseling services. As with the Accessibility Center, all of your dealings are strictly private. Nobody will share your information with anyone (including your parents) without specific written permission from you.

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