Having a learning disability

[OSUPreVet]

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I have ADHD and I do take medication for it - my question is, do you think vet schools 'frown' upon learning disabilities? Or do they see it as, if you've earned this interview then who cares about the disability. I know schools say they don't discriminate etc, but it's still a concern of mine.

 

[Conflagration]

I have ADHD and I do take medication for it - my question is, do you think vet schools 'frown' upon learning disabilities? Or do they see it as, if you've earned this interview then who cares about the disability. I know schools say they don't discriminate etc, but it's still a concern of mine.

Well, the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal and prompts both parties to make reasonable accommodations. If you need accommodations, it is within your legal right to pursue them but you must go through the educational institution's process.

If you don't need accommodations, they won't really know unless you tell them. I mean, I'm on the Autism spectrum and I'm marked as being Nonverbal Learning Disabled, but since I don't ask for accommodations I don't feel a need to disclose it. And you aren't required to either.

Hope that helps. ^^

 

[Frozenshades]

Well, the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal and prompts both parties to make reasonable accommodations. If you need accommodations, it is within your legal right to pursue them but you must go through the educational institution's process.

If you don't need accommodations, they won't really know unless you tell them. I mean, I'm on the Autism spectrum and I'm marked as being Nonverbal Learning Disabled, but since I don't ask for accommodations I don't feel a need to disclose it. And you aren't required to either.

Hope that helps. ^^

👍

If it's something that has caused issues in your application (low grades or GRE or something) you could put that in a short explanation statement in your VMCAS. Other than that I can't figure that it has any relevance and they won't know (Assuming you don't request disability accommodations).

 

[HorsesRLife]

Also there is a pretty recent thread about obstacles you might want to check out. Has a lot of good info on how people have overcome them and how they have actually usee them to their advantage.

 

[OSUPreVet]

👍

If it's something that has caused issues in your application (low grades or GRE or something) you could put that in a short explanation statement in your VMCAS. Other than that I can't figure that it has any relevance and they won't know (Assuming you don't request disability accommodations).

Yeah that's exactly why I was worried because I do have to put it in a brief explanation to explain why I struggled the quarter before I was diagnosed (I was diagnosed as an adult and SUFFERED through highschool) and when I got to college it just got worse. I was so upset because everyone else was able to sit and study and do work and I'd rather chase butterflies. Huge improvement since going on medicine.

 

[Jess Monster]

Yeah that's exactly why I was worried because I do have to put it in a brief explanation to explain why I struggled the quarter before I was diagnosed (I was diagnosed as an adult and SUFFERED through highschool) and when I got to college it just got worse. I was so upset because everyone else was able to sit and study and do work and I'd rather chase butterflies. Huge improvement since going on medicine.

ADHD is common enough that informing people about your diagnosis will likely not cause any harm. There are resources to help students who specifically have ADHD and other learning disabilities, if needed.

Although, I tend to err on the side of giving less private information to a group of people who are judging you. Be careful with what you share and how you share it. If you're on medication, it's being managed and I have a hard time believing an admission committee would have a problem with that. If you weren't on medication, I would not disclose that information.

 

[485501]

Davis took me and I have a brain injury (cognitive fatigue and slow processing speed plus assorted little effects). I put it in my personal statement because I'm proud of how well I've done academically despite it, and then mentioned in the explanation statement that I would be seeking accomodations and giving full documentation to the school if accepted. They never mentioned it to me one way or the other.