I could see how the anticipation of all the “new” things to come swirled continuously through my daughter’s head weeks before her move-in date. New living arrangements, new friends, new routines. It was exciting, fun, and scary all at the same time, not just for my daughter, but for me as her mom. She’s always been my “I’ll figure it out; it’ll be fine” middle child, even if it means learning things in hard or unconventional ways. I was confident in her social abilities because she easily makes friends. However, I harbored some uncertainty regarding her academic performance and adaptation to developing new schedules and routines. It was clear to me that we were both concealing our genuine worries; she due to her strength, bravery, and desire for independence, and myself out of a desire to be supportive, encouraging, and optimistic. This is our experience of navigating through my daughter’s freshman year at Texas Tech as a neurodivergent with social and learning differences.
Part One of this series outlined how to apply for accommodations through the Student Disability Services Department at Texas Tech. I echo the praises of how great these services are and how helpful the staff is. From day one of Texas Tech Orientation, I did not doubt that my daughter would have access to multiple resources to help her be successful as a college student. It was clear that she would be surrounded by faculty and staff who wanted to support her. The question was whether my daughter would recognize and seek help and support before she found herself in dire need. As a parent, I thought I had taken the appropriate measures by ensuring she was informed about the available resources and the necessary steps to access them. She knew if she wanted to have the option to utilize accommodations, she had to advocate for herself to get them in place. This is where one of the first learning lessons occurred. My daughter desired to be “normal” and function like a “traditional” college student without special help or accommodations. Her first semester served as somewhat of a reality check. When finals were around the corner, she realized she would probably benefit from having accommodations. She did the intake process through SDS, scheduled an appointment, and had her initial meeting with an SDS Specialist. Sadly, being late in the semester with finals not far away, she knew she didn’t have time to follow through with the rest of the required process to have accommodations for her finals. (i.e. get a Letter of Accommodations for each class, meet with each of her professors to discuss the accommodations, get the letter signed, and sign up to get placed in a testing room, which has a certain capacity and can fill up).
LESSONS:
- The accommodations may differ from those your student had in High School.
- Getting accommodations requires work on the student’s part; the parent cannot do it for them.
- It is important to go through the ENTIRE process of applying, speaking with instructors, and getting accommodations in place so they are available when the student needs them.
NOTES:
- Some common academic accommodations include extended time on tests, use of peer note takers, use of a computer with spell check, and provision of sign language interpreters.
- Texas Tech SDS does not provide testing to qualify for accommodations. If your child would benefit from an assessment, they can provide referrals to those resources.
OBSERVATION:
- Texas Tech faculty and staff truly want our students to thrive and be successful.
- They are ready and willing to help.
Disappointed with how semester one turned out academically, my daughter ended up in “academic warning” status. My husband and I questioned if college was a good decision for her. I learned I wasn’t alone, and it is not uncommon for the first semester or two to come with challenges as our students learn to adjust and figure out what they need to be successful. The equation that produces the answer may not be the same for everyone. Two plus two is four, but so is three plus one, and five minus one, as is four times one. There are several ways to produce the same answer and Texas Tech has the resources to help our students work through them all. Another resource we love that our daughter has access to is Life Coaches through her college. According to The Department of University Coaching and Student Achievement, students “can meet with a coach as often as (they’d) like, in a one-on-one setting. It provides a space for finding new perspectives to help (them) make better plans to achieve (their) goals. Coaches help (them) think things through and offer accountability.” Additionally, in the Spring of 2023, the Red Raider Success Hub was launched as a resource aimed at improving the overall educational experience at Texas Tech which offers a “holistic student-centered approach to student success and retention.”
We’re ready for year two! As graduates of Texas Tech, and with a family deeply rooted in the Red Raider tradition, my husband and I are truly impressed by the significant progress Texas Tech has achieved in supporting its students. Our youngest joined the Red Raider family this Fall accompanying his sister. Her previous experiences have shaped how we approach the year, and we have a community of support we know won’t let us down.
