going to college - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

skigirl1689 · 08-05-2005, 02:36 PM

Did anyone have assistance when going to college?? I have a lot of things that I need assistance with that are related to daily living. I plan to go to college in 3 years and am wondering how I'm going to live independently when there are issues with fine motor activities. I can walk, basically get dressed on my own, and am mentally able to go to college. I have issues with feeding and showering. Some colleges I have researched have special dorms with personal attendents that you need to hire. I have no idea of what to expect or what I need to do to prepare. Any information on this topic will be very helpful.

Becca

Steffers2318 · 08-06-2005, 10:21 AM

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) will pay for an attendant for you, if you have one in your area...someone who works for them will come to the dorm if needed, but I find it easier to hire one of my friends or someone in the same dorm as me. I put up flyers my freshman year, college kids always need money!

As far as the special dorm goes, I guess it is different for each college, but all schools are required to have accessible dorms...in my school there is only one with an "adapted" bathroom (the upper-classmen dorm), which kind of stunk when I was a freshman, but I guess that's another story

Hope25 · 08-06-2005, 07:26 PM

I wish I had dormed but I didn't. My college was about 45 minutes from my house and always had family/relatives pick me up/drop me off.

I never have had the need of any assistance in college or elsewhere, but I had seen kids in wheelchairs and they were being helped by staff members. What I mean was that they were being accomodated to.

What are your issues with feeding? The only thing I could think of is carrying a tray with your food? You can ask for a bag or bring your own bag/napsack, etc. There's nothing wrong with that.

The only issue w/the bathroom/showering is that they are usually public - meaning they are used by everybody. I don't think any dorm has its own bathroom unless it's an off-campus housing shared by more than 3 people.
You might have to carry a lot of your stuff in there - shampoo, soap, towels, chair if you need it etc - that's the only bad thing.

But look at all your options and stay positive in what you decide to do.
Many warm wishes to you.

JellyRJFan · 08-06-2005, 08:13 PM

My dorm in college has suites (2 rooms connected by a bathroom) or rooms that aren't connected to a bathroom that use the community baths. Those are just like bathrooms you would find in your house though.

Most colleges have rooms for PWDs. The ones in my dorm are bigger and they have much bigger bathrooms attached. I'm not in one of those though.

swiftuk · 08-07-2005, 02:28 AM

I have 24 hour care at uni - it's worth looking around different ones as the size of the accomodation can be quite different.

Sounds like you're lucky if you live in the US and can get a UCP person - I have to pay for mine.