Disability accommodations?

[futureclern]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, so please let me know if I should move it!

Has anyone had disability accommodations in their programs? I've had them in the past (for ADHD, so stuff like extra time on tests, mainly) and I'm trying to decide if I should request them again. I'm doing a second degree/entry level RN to NP program (I think that's the best way to explain it?) starting this fall.

I'd much rather not put the request in, but I'm thinking it might be pretty beneficial for nursing school. My other degree is in music, so everything about this is going to be very different. Right now I'm taking AP2 and micro, and while I don't technically have accommodations, I have a very understanding professor. I had him for AP1 as well, and once I talked to him about this stuff he made some concessions for me (test formatting, an extra 10 or 15 minutes for tests) and my grade went from a C to an A.

At the same time, I keep thinking that this is what I'm going to be doing for the rest of my life and I don't get disability accommodations then, so I should probably figure out how not to now. Any thoughts? Thank you, guys!!

[thoughtful21, BSN, RN]

Several of my classmates used testing accommodations during school. Halfway through, one of my friends realized that she didn't need them anymore and wanted to try a test without. It went great! She tested with the rest of us for the remainder of the year and only used her accommodations once more for a final that she was really worried about.

Several other classmates started the semester without accommodations, struggled a lot, and got them set up halfway through. But there was a delay while the paperwork went through, which probably caused them extra stress.

You're right that nursing school is a whole different ball game, and it can be very difficult. Also, it seems like the extra time has really helped your grades in the past. My advice is to start the semester with the accommodations (get approval and get everything set up), and then you can decline them if you don't need them.

Good luck with your studying!