Five sentence summary
That first conversation about your accommodation requirements can be stressful, but keeping the conversation short and understanding what instructors are and are not allowed to ask helps. Writing down a script can also reduce some of the burden. You shouldn't be afraid to refer people to the disability office. Educating everyone on accessibility is not your responsibility.
Depending on your school, your disability advisor may handle notifying your professors themselves. Or you may need to login to a website that will then allow you to notify each professor for each course electronically. In some cases, you may have to disclose your accommodations to your instructors yourself, which can be intimidating.
Why this is even necessary
Legally, all you are required to do is notify your professors that you have X,Y, and Z as formal accessibility accommodations. They are not entitled to know anything about your diagnosis or your medical history.
Instructors may ask you follow-up questions about your accommodations, especially if it is an accommodation they are unfamiliar with. It may be helpful to share specific examples of what you need or your past experiences, but this is your choice entirely. Instructors may be hesitant to agree to certain accommodations, such as allowing students to record lectures, because they misunderstand how those accommodations are used. They might worry you will sell your notes online or that their ideas will be stolen by others (it happens). It can be nice to share examples such as, "Last semester, I deleted all of my recordings after the grades were submitted" or "This one professor would warn me in advance if we were going to discuss highly personal information that I wasn't permitted to record. Then we worked together to make sure I still had the information I needed in order to study." You can always refer instructors to your disability office, especially if they have a lot of questions. Legally, you are not required to disclose anything about your condition(s), so keep that in mind. You don't even need to tell them what you are diagnosed with. A professor can only refuse an accommodation if it is unreasonable or would change the core content of the class; letting a professor know you need double time on an exam the night before might cause issues or asking for written assignments only in a public speaking course. That doesn't mean instructors won't deny your request, and you may already have experienced this. I have advice on what to do if a professor denies your accommodation request here. What to say
As for the actual first discussion with a professor about accommodations, it can be super short. You can introduce yourself and say, "Here are my accommodations. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me/contact the disability office. I am excited to take your course." That may very well be the only conversation you need to have. If you're nervous, I recommend writing down a script, sticking it in your class notebook, and referring to it when you approach your instructor. Again though, the first time you talk to your instructor will likely be quick. If you're really nervous, have a hard copy of your accommodations; you can hand this to your professor and say, "Hi, I'm So-And-So. This is for you. Thank you for class today" and leave afterwards. Chances are your professor wants to take their time and read through your accommodations or they are already familiar with the accommodations you have and don't need much or anything else from you.
If your disability office gives you any push back about answering questions from your professors yourself, you have every right to firmly say that you do not wish to disclose personal information about your disability and are not legally required to do so. End of story.
If your disability advisor gives you a speech about learning to advocate for yourself, even if they mean well, I recommend nodding and thanking them for the perspective. Tell them, "I will keep that in mind for next time" and just leave it at that. Another option is to ask your disability advisor what they would say exactly, ask for specific advice, and raise your concerns and fears. If you have a good relationship with your advisor, this is a conversation worth having. The stress of self-advocating
Honestly, who wants to learn how to advocate for themself with an instructor who thinks they're a lazy student? That is not what you are here for. If you get to know your instructor better or know from other students that this individual is especially kind and supportive to students, then you may wish to try advocating for yourself.
Learning to speak about your accommodations and your learning needs is pretty big request for new college students, so I wouldn't feel guilty referring instructors to the disability office. As ridiculous as some might think this sounds, I don't think students should feel guilty when reminding the disability office that this is part of their job and students' job is to learn. Disabled students deserve the same opportunities and access as everyone else, and the majority of students don't hear, "learn to self-advocate!" nearly as often as disabled students do. Key points:
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AuthorThere's a reason theADHDAcademic is an anonymous account and there's a reason why this website will remain anonymous. That said, there are some basics it might be helpful to know about me: DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional or a lawyer of any kind. All text, graphics, and content on this website are for educational purposes only. Any and all content should not be substituted for medical or legal advice. Although I strive to provide the most accurate, current, and scientifically sound information, content should never be substituted for professional advice. Always consult a medical and/or legal professional before making any decisions. Links are provided only for reference and do not necessarily imply endorsement.
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