I am currently enrolling in a university for the spring because I have actually graduated high school a semester later than I normally would.
I have a diagnosis from my doctor of Tourette’s Syndrome with tic disorder. I wasn’t sure to put this in the forum for students with learning disabilities since it’s not a learning disability per se, but still a college “life” question.
I have some of the more bothersome tics such as loud, vocal tics like shouting, or involuntary swearing. I have opted to live on campus for this coming spring semester, but I did not let the housing office know about my diagnosis of Tourette’s yet. This is because I got an official diagnosis immediately preceding winter break and the housing and disabilities offices were closed until this week. Move-in day is this coming Sunday.
I’m very concerned about my potential roommate who I may scare or bother significantly with my tics. I can “hold” them back temporarily, but they will manifest themselves in other ways until I let them out. This can include very violent behaviors like grabbing pointed objects and stabbing things or the air wildly. I’m afraid I may involuntarily harm my roommate through this fashion.
I have not heard back from the disabilities office yet and will call back tomorrow if I don’t get a call today. Is it selfish of me to want to request a single dorm room so that potential roommates aren’t caught in the midst of my problem? There aren’t many dorms to begin with and I was given a random one since I’m coming in for the spring rather than fall, so I should be lucky I even got one (living on-campus isn’t a requirement). As well, I have very little documented evidence of the violent tics since my official diagnosis only just came this past December.
Coming from someone with a mildly bothersome roommate, the shouting should be enough to get you a single. Your roommate would understand that it wasn’t your fault, but that wouldn’t stop them from being pissed when you wake them up by accident while you’re pulling an all-nighter and they have an 8 am.
Definitely keep pestering the Disabilities Office, you want this sorted out ASAP, for your sanity and your roommate’s.
Oh my gosh! I feel for both you and your room mate. You need a single and it would be so hard on your room mate, not only physically but mentally. I can’t believe they wouldnt give you your own room. You should be calling them non stop to get this taken care of before move in day.
If you have described your condition to them exactly as you have here, I would think that you qualify for a single. Personally, I think the possibility of compulsive stabbing is the most frightening! If you had a single room, you would clearly be able to live more at ease in college, and I think that disabilities office would agree. If they don’t grant you a separate room, push the issue further. Good luck!
While I agree that you should have a single room and make a good case for it, there may simply not be any available. This is really something you should have been working with the disabilities services office and housing offices from the very beginning to see what you can do to get an accommodation. Keep working with them and explaining your situation (perhaps, a letter from your doctor will help in terms of documentation). There may be no room available so you may have to go on a waitlist of some kind.
If you can’t switch rooms immediately, just let your roommate know the situation. Explain the condition and apologize for the inconvenience. Let him know that you’re trying to switch rooms so that you don’t bother your roommate. That’s really all you can do.
OMG you guys! I just called the disability office today and there’s a reason why they haven’t contacted me–they misplaced my documentation!
So… the original timeframe they quoted me probably won’t start until today…
But anyways, I appreciate the thoughts you guys. They gave me motivation to actually try and pursue this. I have not yet contacted the housing office, but I will immediately after I hit “Post Comment”.
I agree that you should get a single, and at many schools, you can get some priority for singles due to a disability.
My roommate over a summer program had Tourette’s, with a service dog to help her. Overall, I didn’t have a problem with her tics (and they are very similar to yours) but I guess how much it bothers your roommate will depend on the roommate. She didn’t do the stabbing thing though, which probably warrants getting a single anyway.
Definitely get involved with disability services, though. And they can help you if professors try to kick you out of class for your tics or something (happened to my roommate at her current school).
Do not feel guilty at all…feel as though as you are doing the best thing for you and any potential roommates. I would also let people know that live right around you that you have Tourette’s so they don’t think you are just strange.
Also talk to disability services about classroom accomodations IF YOU NEED THEM…you say you can suppress the urges for a while, so if you can do it through classes and tests, that is good. If you feel to stressed then you may need to ask for an accomodation so you take the test separately.But let them know up front that this something you may need to request.
