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[futureapppsy2]

Hey all!
I've recently been accepted to my top choice Ph.D. program, yayyy! Unfortunately, around the exact same time I've been diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1486711) and am waiting to see a specialist to see if I have an autonomic disorder called POTS. I have a lot of migraines, pain, brain fog, physical fatigue, breathlessness, and diarrhea/vomiting from my heart rate being so high most of the time. Also, when I stand up my HR shoots to 40 bpm over whatever it is laying down, so I obviously prefer being on a couch/in bed. My doctor and I are trying to control it naturally before we resort to medication or surgery, as I was put on medication in the ER and absolutely did not tolerate it (nightmares, night sweats, more vomit).

Anyhoo- does anyone else have an illness like this? How was your Ph.D. program in accommodating you? I am beginning to think I'll have to take an entire year to get what I wanted to done, or that I'll graduate as a bare minimum candidate with all the breaks/napping/doctors' appointments. But at least in my head it is still doable.

So really, I suppose I am asking how to make the best of this, and your experiences with being a disabled doctoral student. Thanks!!

I'll PM you, but you (and others interested in the topic) might be interested in this recent article on professional psych grad students with disabilities (including chronic illness): http://psycnet.apa.org/psycarticles/2014-34442-001

The references are also potentially useful.

 

[racek]

I hope your program is accommodating and wish you the very best. It sounds like you're very courageous Congrats on getting into your top choice!

 

[PsyDr]

Division 22 has many disabled psychologists of all varieties.

A school will have to provide reasonable accommodations for your disability so long as you can fulfill the essential requirements of the program. For example, you might get extra time to turn in assignments. But if the program requires you to complete 400hrs/yr in practicum, you would likely not be excused from this essential requirement.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

Definitely be sure to register with the office for students with disabilities (or whatever it is called at your school). Congrats and lots of luck!!

 

[futureapppsy2]

Division 22 has many disabled psychologists of all varieties.

A school will have to provide reasonable accommodations for your disability so long as you can fulfill the essential requirements of the program. For example, you might get extra time to turn in assignments. But if the program requires you to complete 400hrs/yr in practicum, you would likely not be excused from this essential requirement.

That's not usually considered a reasonable accommodation, actually, because it's expected that students can plan their project schedules in advance to accommodate their disabilities. If you have a sudden flair up the day before an assignment is due, there can be a bit more leeway, but disability services offices generally have pretty tied hands with regards to that. Interestingly, Lund et al. (2014), the study I linked above, found that most trainees with disabilities did not disclose to a disability services office and so did not receive accommodations through them. Also, they may not be as much help with clinical accommodations as with academic ones.

As for the numbers of disabled psychologists, it's hard to tell, as the data we have on it is very limited and many, many disabled trainees choose not to disclosure. Andrews et al. (2013) analyzed the APPIC data on this and found that about 6-8% of internship applicants per year reported having a disability. although this data has its limitations as well.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Definitely be sure to register with the office for students with disabilities (or whatever it is called at your school). Congrats and lots of luck!!

Surprising data on that from the above study:

"Participants were asked about the type of accommodations, if any, they received or requested during pre-internship graduate training. Formal accommodations were defined in the survey as “accommodations made through a disability services office or other official channels, such as extended times for tests, alternate format books, readers, or sign language interpreters.” Informal accommodations were defined as “accommodations made through an informal agreement with a faculty member or supervisor.” Of the 49 participants who indicated that they acquired their primary disability during or before graduate school (i.e., not during or after postdoctoral training), 11 (22.4%) reported that they received only formal accommodations, 14 (28.6%) reported that they received only informal accommodations,and 10 (20.4%) reported that they received both formal and informal accommodations. Thus, less than half of respondents (42.8%; n =21) received any formal accommodations during their pre-internship training. Fourteen (28.6%) reported that they received no accommodations, indicating that they did not request them or that their requests for accommodations were denied."

It's interesting that so few disclose their disability to disability services offices, despite it being the official route for accommodations.

 

[PsyDr]

Futureapp, that statement is contradictory. You say extra time is not a reasonable accommodation, and then that they might give it.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

Surprising data on that from the above study:

"Participants were asked about the type of accommodations, if any, they received or requested during pre-internship graduate training. Formal accommodations were defined in the survey as “accommodations made through a disability services office or other official channels, such as extended times for tests, alternate format books, readers, or sign language interpreters.” Informal accommodations were defined as “accommodations made through an informal agreement with a faculty member or supervisor.” Of the 49 participants who indicated that they acquired their primary disability during or before graduate school (i.e., not during or after postdoctoral training), 11 (22.4%) reported that they received only formal accommodations, 14 (28.6%) reported that they received only informal accommodations,and 10 (20.4%) reported that they received both formal and informal accommodations. Thus, less than half of respondents (42.8%; n =21) received any formal accommodations during their pre-internship training. Fourteen (28.6%) reported that they received no accommodations, indicating that they did not request them or that their requests for accommodations were denied."

It's interesting that so few disclose their disability to disability services offices, despite it being the official route for accommodations.

Interesting. At our school, you could register and not disclose to professors until you needed an accommodation. I think that made people feel safer. I had a friend who did that and said she mostly had it for insurance in case something came up.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Interesting. At our school, you could register and not disclose to professors until you needed an accommodation. I think that made people feel safer. I had a friend who did that and said she mostly had it for insurance in case something came up.

Actually, this is standard policy across the board, and faculty aren't actually allowed to ask with your disability is or any additional details. Not to say that there aren't some that try, especially in psych, where some faculty legit ask to see students' assessment reports (which is illegal).

 

[futureapppsy2]

Futureapp, that statement is contradictory. You say extra time is not a reasonable accommodation, and then that they might give it.

Extra time on tests or in a one time or very infrequent medical emergency? Yes. Extra time on assignments across the board? Generally no.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Actually, this is standard policy across the board, and faculty aren't actually allowed to ask with your disability is or any additional details. Not to say that there aren't some that try, especially in psych, where some faculty legit ask to see students' assessment reports (which is illegal).

Wow…just…wow. If anyone should know better about what can be discussed/viewed…

 

[Lisa44201]

It's interesting that so few disclose their disability to disability services offices, despite it being the official route for accommodations.

Have you heard how faculty discuss students with disabilities? I have....

 

[WisNeuro]

I imagine very site specific. We had students with disabilities at my grad program. Very supportive atmosphere.

 

[psychnerd20]

Hi! I have navigated my PhD program managing a neuropathic pain condition. I tried to hide it and not disclose for the first two years of my program until it reached the point that it was having a large impact on my ability to function and I had to tell some professors. At that point, I ended up registering it with the disability services office like Dr. Eliza said, but didn't have them send any letters requesting accommodations with professors. I think the stress of hiding it and negative emotions (e.g. shame) that went a long with that had a big impact on my pain levels and functioning. Once I stopped hiding it and my major professor knew, it was easier. She was very supportive. I would suggest having an open conversation about it starting out at least with your advisor (if that feels safe to you) so that if it affects your ability to function in the program, they are aware.

I've navigated my program by just trying to make wise choices about time and self-care. Some people in my program do 20+ hours of practicum a week, but I try to pick sites that keep to just the bare minimum ~12 hrs and have some flexibility (e.g. ability to schedule your own patients or all patients you see are directly supervised meaning if I had to miss a day, the supervisor could cover the assessment or therapy session). For lab work, I try to do a good job training and supervising undergrads or master's students to run participants so that I'm not having to work 12 hr days to run a late evening participant. I go to less conferences and try to pick strategic times during the year to go to conferences. My advisor and I have an understanding that some times I need to work from home and she's ok with that as long as I'm showing productivity. I've just had to be realistic with myself regarding how much stress and busyness I can handle and realize that at the end of the day, I'll have the same degree as my peers as long as I meet my critical milestones. With some creative problem solving, it's definitely doable!

Also, I highly suggest the book "Life Disrupted: Getting Real about Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties." This was really helpful to me during my low point and questioning whether/if I should disclose my disability.

Along the same lines, I'm curious if any0ne with a chronic illness or invisible disability has tried to apply for an NRSA for trainees with disabilities? My advisor and I have thrown this thought around a couple of times, but I'm generally really high functioning (due to coping mechanisms I've developed since childhood) and am not sure if I could prove disability.

 

[notfullyfathomd]

I have a chronic illness and am now on internship (just accepted a postdoc, yay!!). My experience of managing my illness during graduate school has been pretty good. I went through periods of being well and flare ups, during which I was hospitalized once during graduate school and ended up in the ED a few more times. I never filed with the disability office and handled my illness the way that anyone would handle being sick (e.g., with a cold) -- asking for extensions when needed, emailing profs when I was sick and wouldn't be in class. I never had to ask for accommodations that were above and beyond any other student, but if I did I would have filed more formal paperwork. My graduate school schedule was quite flexible and so I was able to schedule doctors appointments at times that were convenient to me. The biggest hit I took in grad school was research time -- when I was feeling worse I basically only did the bare minimum, which meant classes, practicum, and collecting data as required for my master's/dissertation. I didn't have extra energy to work on manuscripts and my CV is a little weaker because of that.

I did disclose to my mentor and most people in my lab during my second year, and then to the DCT when I was in the hospital. Everyone has been very supportive, and I've had the chance to talk to other graduate students in my program who have similar illnesses. In that sense, I am SO glad I told people, because it's really wonderful to be able to talk to someone who knows what you're going through. I have also been on the receiving end of some insensitive comments from people who should know better, and this has made me more wary of disclosing to clinical supervisors on internship. It also made me more sensitive to some of the unquantifiable aspects of training when choosing a postdoc, i.e., in the worst case scenario of being very ill, would my supervisors be understanding? If I got the sense that they would not (even from the interview), that was telling.

psychnerd I'll check out that book that you recommended. I thought about applying to some funding for student with disabilities, but I don't think I would qualify given my current level of functioning.

futureapppsy I would love any resources or literature via PM. I also curious if there are mentorship and leadership opportunities through Div 22 section for psychologists with disabilities -- I guess I'll shoot them an email.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I have a chronic illness and am now on internship (just accepted a postdoc, yay!!). My experience of managing my illness during graduate school has been pretty good. I went through periods of being well and flare ups, during which I was hospitalized once during graduate school and ended up in the ED a few more times. I never filed with the disability office and handled my illness the way that anyone would handle being sick (e.g., with a cold) -- asking for extensions when needed, emailing profs when I was sick and wouldn't be in class. I never had to ask for accommodations that were above and beyond any other student, but if I did I would have filed more formal paperwork. My graduate school schedule was quite flexible and so I was able to schedule doctors appointments at times that were convenient to me. The biggest hit I took in grad school was research time -- when I was feeling worse I basically only did the bare minimum, which meant classes, practicum, and collecting data as required for my master's/dissertation. I didn't have extra energy to work on manuscripts and my CV is a little weaker because of that.

I did disclose to my mentor and most people in my lab during my second year, and then to the DCT when I was in the hospital. Everyone has been very supportive, and I've had the chance to talk to other graduate students in my program who have similar illnesses. In that sense, I am SO glad I told people, because it's really wonderful to be able to talk to someone who knows what you're going through. I have also been on the receiving end of some insensitive comments from people who should know better, and this has made me more wary of disclosing to clinical supervisors on internship. It also made me more sensitive to some of the unquantifiable aspects of training when choosing a postdoc, i.e., in the worst case scenario of being very ill, would my supervisors be understanding? If I got the sense that they would not (even from the interview), that was telling.

psychnerd I'll check out that book that you recommended. I thought about applying to some funding for student with disabilities, but I don't think I would qualify given my current level of functioning.

futureapppsy I would love any resources or literature via PM. I also curious if there are mentorship and leadership opportunities through Div 22 section for psychologists with disabilities -- I guess I'll shoot them an email.

I'd love to give you more info and resources! I'll pm you! (Anyone else who is interested--feel free to shoot me a pm as well. )

 

[FeelGoodDoGood]

Thanks for everyone posting on this thread. I'm a first year psychology master's student with chronic illness planning on applying to PhD programs this coming year, and it's very helpful to hear your stories. Does Div 22 psychologists with disabilities have a graduate student group? Might be nice to have something to connect with more people in the same position!