Let's Talk Accommodations

"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else."  (Copyright 2017 ADA National Network. All Rights Reserved)

I think it's safe to say that most people know there are requirements for fair and equal opportunities and rights for people who have a visible disabling condition, and for the most part, I have witnessed good intentions, appropriate accommodations made, and compassion shown.  However, there are many, many "invisible" disabilities, and I don't feel those dealing with them are always aware of their rights, nor are those around them as understanding or even willing to acknowledge them.  

Depression and other mental health diseases are covered by the ADA.  Bladder and bowel problems,  neurological disorders, endocrine and circulatory problems...the list goes on and on.  These are things I feel everyone should be aware of.  No one is going to advocate for us; we need to be our own advocates and learn how to ask for what we need without shame or embarrassment or fear of judgment or criticism.  This is advice I need to take as well, but it's much easier for me to advocate for others than for myself.   I admit that wholeheartedly.

When my daughter decided on a college, decided to live on campus, and began the process of enrolling, her biggest stressor was the idea of having a complete stranger for a roommate.  I couldn't blame her; I would not have been comfortable with that either.  However, I didn't say that to her; I reminded her of all the stories about people meeting their lifelong best friends when they became college roommates, about her aunt having longtime friends who had started out as strangers she'd met at college, etc.  But, in my head, I was still feeling a lot of empathy for her because I knew I'd have those same concerns, and her feelings were valid.  Then I learned that social anxiety, if diagnosed and being treated for this condition, was a covered disability under the ADA.  Because of this, with nothing more needed than a couple of forms filled out by both her and her therapist, she was able to qualify for a single-occupant room with single-room fees waived through her rights under the ADA.  Though she didn't like the idea of "special treatment" and didn't want to be labeled as "disabled", I explained to her that she should not feel that way, that this was her right, and that she deserved to be able to feel good about her upcoming college experience.  If something was causing her so much stress that it was impacting her feelings about attending college, that absolutely was something within her rights to address.  If even one parent or one student reads this and learns about their rights regarding anxiety and/or depression, and realizes their feelings are valid and deserve to be addressed, then I have done my job with this blog.  

Advocate for yourselves, advocate for each other, and have each other's backs out there in the world, because at the end of the day, those are the things that really matter...

“Ada National Network.” ADA National Network | Information, Guidance and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act, 22 Aug. 2023, adata.org/.