Disability services at universities really need to improve. I know this is something that differs depending on the uni / college you attend, but I’ve found that they have such poor understanding of mental illness, and still inadvertently act as if it’s just a matter of “laziness”.
They say they’re there to accomodate and make things easier for you, yet, you’re given such short windows of time to apply for extensions if needs be. A few days, in some cases, to sort out paperwork? Do they not realise how difficult that is to do right in the midst of an episode? When everything is pointless, meaningless, and you can barely function? Essentially, they’re expecting you to be able to “pull yourself out of it”, but if that were even possible, then we wouldn’t need an extension in the first place?
I’m fed up with how the system, which is supposed to help you, ends up judging you and making more hurdles. It’s worrying when disability services themselves, can be so ableist. Makes you feel fairly hopeless?
Anyway. I’m going to be sending a polite email explaining why I think they need to amend their policies. Hopefully they reply and take my feedback seriously.
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