<p>years ago there was a bunch of us wondering what would happen to our gifted dyslexics as they progressed through high school and into college. We were pm-ing back and forth and this forum was born. I might suggest asking the mods to rename this or to drop the ld-adhd part of the title to be more inclusive of kids with other issues that impact their high school and college years. </p>
<p>I had these as well, but my coach (who worked for my university) also assisted with self-advocacy skills and could advocate on my behalf when necessary. She did talk to my professors on a couple of occasions. One incident that comes to mind is when I had a foreign professor who wasn’t aware disabled people go to college or that the US requires that they be accommodated, who had never heard of autism and just thought I was uncooperative-- which I wasn’t, at all. She didnt like my lack of range in facial expressions and thought I just had a bad attitude, so she “shouldn’t have” to deal with me.</p>
<p>Another time, I had done poorly on a midterm and the professor wanted to meet with me, I had the impression I was in trouble for not participating more actively and for excessive absences (due to chronic illness on file at disabilities office.) I was afraid to go to the meeting, afraid she would think I was making excuses, and wanted to avoid the class and skip the meeting. I didn’t know how to handle the situation or communicate what was going on properly and was shutting down. My aide was able to accompany me to the meeting and help me sort the situation out. </p>
<p>I met with her once a week and we corresponded via email every day, so she could see snags like that coming and help me figure out how to get past them rather than shut down and stop going to class. I initiated all contact, though, it isn’t as though I had someone checking on me every day to nag and prod. She was just there to help if I asked her to. I think the problem is most aspies won’t ask.</p>
<p>Emaheevul, it’s great that you are proactive about your disability, and asked your coach for help when you need it. Unfortunately, as you say, some Aspies lack introspection to the extent that the don’t realize they need to ask for help.</p>
<p>Tolerance, is a much abused idea these days. </p>
<p>tolerance
noun
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one’s own.
interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one’s own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint. </p>
<p>Sorry, but an employer/school can rightfully demand of an employee/student that they indeed show up. On time! Is that news to anyone?</p>
<p>But yes, the demand for “tolerance” is a lately much abused concept.</p>