Acem glossary of terms

DO-IT Academic Accommodations for Students with Psychiatric Disabilities By Alfred Souma, Nancy Rickerson, and Sheryl Burgstahler More than 400,000 students enrolled in American postsecondary institutions report having a disability (Lewis, Farris, & Greene, August 1999). Of that total population, over 33,000 report having a mental illness. Recent increases in the size of this group are due in part to improved medications that result in symptoms mild enough for them to enjoy the benefits and meet the challenges of postsecondary education (Weiner & Weiner, 1996). Students with psychiatric disabilities are entitled to reasonable academic accommodations as provided by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Providing effective accommodations allows students equal access to academic courses and activities. Their presence also contributes to the diversity of the student population. What is a Psychiatric Disability? Persons with a psychiatric disability have a diagnosable mental illness causing severe disturbance in thinking, feeling, relating, and/or functional behaviors that results in a substantially diminished capacity to cope with daily life demands. A psychiatric disability is a hidden disability; it is rarely apparent to others. However, students with a psychiatric disability may experience symptoms that interfere with their educational goals, which may include, yet are not limited to: ● Heightened anxieties, fears, suspicions, or blaming others ●Marked personality change over time ●Confused or disorganized thinking; strange or grandiose ideas ● Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things ●Extreme highs and/or lows in mood ●Denial of obvious problems and/or strong resistance to offers of help ●Thinking or talking about suicide Psychiatric Diagnoses A student with a psychiatric disability may have one or more of the following psychiatric diagnoses (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Depression. This is a mood disorder that can begin at any age. Major depression may be characterized by a depressed mood most of each day, a lack of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities, thoughts of suicide, insomnia, and consistent feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Bipolar Affective Disorder (BAD, previously called Manic Depressive Disorder).BAD is a mood disorder with revolving periods of mania and depression. In the manic
phase, a person might experience inflated self-esteem, high work and creative productivity, and decreased need to sleep. In the depressed phase, the person would experience the symptoms of depression (see above). Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a personality disorder which includes both mood disorder and thought disorder symptoms. This diagnosis has both biological and environmental determinants. Individuals diagnosed with BPD may have experienced childhood abuse and family dysfunction. They may experience mood fluctuations, insecurities and mistrust, distortion of perceptions, dissociations, and difficulty with interpersonal relationships and limited coping skills. Schizophrenia. This is a thought disorder that can cause a person to experience difficulty with activities of daily living and may experience delusions, hallucinations and paranoia. Schizophrenic individuals typically demonstrate concrete thought processing and appreciate structure and routines. Anxiety Disorders. These are mood disorders in which the individuals respond to thoughts, situations, environments and/or people with fear and anxiety. Anxiety symptoms can disrupt a person’s ability to concentrate and focus on tasks at hand. Symptoms may be in response to real or imagined fears. Specific anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social and Specific Phobias, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The following conditions are behavior or personality disorders excluded from coverage under the ADA: transvestitism, transsexualism, pedophilia, voyeurism, gender identity disorders, compulsive gambling, kleptomania, and pyromania (Blacklock, 2001). Functional Limitations The following functional limitations related to psychiatric disabilities may affect academic performance and may require accommodations (Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 1997). ●Difficulty with medication side effects: side effects of psychiatric medications that affect academic performance include drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth and thirst, blurred vision, hand tremors, slowed response time, and difficulty initiating interpersonal contact. ●Screening out environmental stimuli: an inability to block out sounds, sighs, or odors that interfere with focusing on tasks. Limited ability to tolerate noise and crowds. ●Sustaining concentration: restlessness, shortened attention span, distraction, and difficulty understanding or remembering verbal directions. ●Maintaining stamina: difficulty sustaining enough energy to spend a whole day of classes on campus; combating drowsiness due to medications. ●Handling time pressures and multiple tasks: difficulty managing assignments, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines. Inability to multi-task work.