Isobel, high school student

hello! my name is isobel, I go by she/they pronouns and I’m currently attending [redacted], and we don’t use grades! My disability is CRPS and paralysis in my left arm and hand as well as dystonia and a movement disorder!

How much does being disabled affect your education/experience at school? Being in online school when I became disabled, I was lucky to not have it affect my education a great amount. Some of the more obvious ways it affected my learning were things along the lines of learning how to retype due to not having the use of both hands. However, I also had some difficulty learning how to arrange my schedule around newfound doctors appointments and physical therapy appointments, as well as learning how to manage symptoms and fatigue in order to get schoolwork done. I’m lucky to be in a program that allows students to work at their own pace which allowed me to manage classes at a slower pace to get my feet under me.

Overall, was/is your experience as a disabled student negative, positive, or neutral? why?

Due to the program type I was in, I think my experience was pretty neutral. I was able to continue classes relatively seamlessly and was able to continue classes easily enough.

What do you wish was different?

I do wish that in classes such as the health class they stopped the forums from seemingly being strangely run with pyramid schemes. It’s odd that in a highschool there’s these outrageous claims, but I’ve seen several posts about how essential oils cured their crohn’s or other chronic conditions. I would like it if that was more heavily monitored.

Is there anything your school does that is helpful to you as a disabled student?

Nothing particularly due to the online format! I’m sure they would tend to learning disabilities as they have stated that, but I don’t fall into that category. * What is something that your school does that you find the most helpful to you? Definitely the “go at your own pace” format of it. It has made managing appointments unbelievably easy, and I have a full year to complete each course. I can sign up for as many or as little courses as I’d like, which means my pace can truly be my pace.

If you are physically disabled: is your school physically accessible? Do you have any issues with this?

I don’t have any issues since it’s all virtual other than using a computer one-handed, but I would’ve had that problem regardless.

What are some things you wish teachers/staff/administrators knew about being a disabled student?

Definitely that the students aren’t trying to make things harder on staff when they ask for things. Having to ask permission to do things that you might’ve once been able to do by yourself is extraordinarily difficult. losing independence sucks. so when a disabled student asks for help, listen.

If you could change one thing about how your school deals with disability, what would it be?

Again, since it’s online and a physical disability i have no complaints!

Do you have a specific story that you think exemplifies your experience as a disabled student? If so, feel free to share it.

I think because of my individual experience with virtual learning, im honestly great fun to not have a specific story to exemplify my experience. when i became disabled, life went on school-wise. and i’m grateful for that.

Intersectionality: Do you have any other identities or aspects of yourself that you think affect your experience as a disabled student? (ie. LGBTQIA+ identities, race, socioeconomic status, religion, location, etc)

I actually think that my school is less forgiving of lgbtq students. especially in language classes, there’s a lot of slightly homophobic wording, and i do think that when i’ve brought it up with staff they haven’t taken me as seriously as they would an able bodied, cis straight white kid. but i could be reading into things.