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NAS78985

Hi there,

I’ve recently been referred for ASC diagnosis by my GP after many years of fluctuating mental health (anxiety/depression) and my Uni have asked me to outline how this affects my study and what support I might need whilst I wait another year for my diagnosis.

I’m really struggling to answer this as I’ve only ever been me so I don’t know what the neurotypical norm is if that makes sense. For example, I find ‘speed reading ‘ or ‘skim reading’ impossible- I have to read the whole sentence and paragraph- I don’t even really understand how there is an alternative to this?! Is this related to my potential diagnosis or do I just need to improve this skill? My next module seems to have a reading list that’s just not possible without it.

For lots of things I don’t know if something is a difficulty specific to me or just a normal part of life. For example, I study part time with the OU and have a toddler to take care of- time management can be tricky and if our day has not gone well then by the time my allocated evening study time arrives my energy is waaaay too depleted- I’m in shutdown mode. Autism/mental health or just normal studying mum problems? 

I have a lot of problems with executive functioning, being organised just enough to function and care for my bubba takes 100% of my mental energy. This impacts my study sometimes but it’s all so interlinked and holistic that I don’t know how to fill out the disability forms they’ve sent that relate to study support. I’m always going to prioritise making sure that we’re fed, slept and reasonably clean before study but I’ve dropped out of bricks and mortar Uni many years ago and really want to complete my degree now that I’ve been gifted a second chance to do so. (I considered Open Uni when I worked but there would have been absolutely no way I could have coped with normal life self-care stuff, work and uni- I could barely keep on top of the normal life stuff when I worked full time as it was!).

If anybody has any pointers of how to fill these forms or services which might be able to help me do them and be really grateful.

Thanks so much for reading all that and for any useful advice

:D 

Parents

  • Tell them what you've just told us.  

    I'd pick out here that you need additional reading time, or some guidance as to where to focus your reading. And some coaching on the time management and executive.  You may need your tutor to extend deadlines at times etc

    I've done a number of OU courses.  One of them when my son was very small.  I did very well indeed with them, whereas in my traditional first degree, I just sort of skimmed by for many of the reasons you state.  With the OU though it was so much easier to excel even though I then had a job and a kid.  You'll find a lot of the structure is just sort of done for you; for everyone, actually.  The courses are built unit by unit, with no more than one assignment at a time generally to worry about.  It's quite easy to establish a pattern to keep the executive on track.  But you'll know that if you worked for them.

Reply

  • Tell them what you've just told us.  

    I'd pick out here that you need additional reading time, or some guidance as to where to focus your reading. And some coaching on the time management and executive.  You may need your tutor to extend deadlines at times etc

    I've done a number of OU courses.  One of them when my son was very small.  I did very well indeed with them, whereas in my traditional first degree, I just sort of skimmed by for many of the reasons you state.  With the OU though it was so much easier to excel even though I then had a job and a kid.  You'll find a lot of the structure is just sort of done for you; for everyone, actually.  The courses are built unit by unit, with no more than one assignment at a time generally to worry about.  It's quite easy to establish a pattern to keep the executive on track.  But you'll know that if you worked for them.

Children
  • in reply to Dawn

    Thank you, that’s very helpful. I am finally actually doing the paperwork!

    Yes, so far, I have appreciated the modular structure but I’m worried as I haven’t been able to complete any of the learning activities, only the assessments. This was OK for my last subject but I don’t think it will work for the next. 

    Thanks for getting back to me and sorry for the long gap.