<p>I would like to keep in touch with you as your kids’ college careers progress. My 2015er has a severe vision disability and I am not sure he can handle the reading load of full time college. High school has been challenging enough. I am picking classes that have less reading. He qualifies for accommodations on testing so I assume he’ll get accommodations in college, but still…it’s just painful to read very much. How do your kids handle the LAC classes? Amtc, is everything available on audio?</p>
<p>sbj - I totally get it, part of my son’s dyslexia is tracking issues. One of his accommodations for testing was enlarged answer sheets because the looking at the test, then finding the correct bubble to fill in was a huge challenge.</p>
<p>I don’t know your child’s interest, but we stayed away from schools with lots of gen ed requirements. It was why when we discovered Rochester that we knew we had a winner. Their requirements do include a writing class - he got support for that and has actually admitted he learned a lot. They have 3 divisions, humanities, social science, math/science/engineering. You have to take a group of 3 classes in the two sections where you aren’t majoring. So for example he’s math - so his two clusters he got to choose based on reading requirements - music and now he’s choosing psychology, ironically learning disabilities. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t study, he just doesn’t read a ton. And it doesn’t mean he can’t read, he’s just slow, he gets headaches and doesn’t take as much out of it.</p>
<p>High school was way more difficult with the required history, english, etc. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent reading to him. Books weren’t always available on tape.</p>
<p>My son’s got convergence insufficiency and he reads most of the time with one eye. It gets kind of tiring. His is correctable with surgery (15 minute procedure in each eye) but at this point, my guy is afraid he’d go blind during the surgery, so he’s willing to live with the consequences right now.</p>
<p>Did your 2016er take AP exams in high school? They seem so daunting because of all the writing and reading.</p>
<p>I remember telling my parents about my classes. I don’t recall them really having an input in what I took beyond signing up freshman year (my mom helped me figure that out). I suppose the trend continues as that’s what happens in my family now. I like to know what my guys are taking (pure curiosity), but we don’t really get involved with the selection process, etc.</p>
<p>I can fully comprehend the eye issue. For about a year now I’ve had double vision when I look to the left. The farther I look to the left, the worse it gets. To the right, everything is fine. Since it doesn’t seem to be a problem fixable with glasses, I’ll admit to being a bit concerned with getting it looked at (well, the thought of surgery to get it fixed if possible). I can see now, albeit not perfectly. But what would happen if something went wrong? I’m contemplating at least getting it looked at this summer, but so far, all I’ve heard is “don’t go to ____.” I have no idea how to find a reputable place/person. Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about staying “in plan,” but that doesn’t give me a lead as to who to go see. I’m not all that fond of these “getting older” issues…</p>
<p>I think so. My 15 yo has been doing driver’s ed online and it’s just so long and boring and tiring. I asked him if they have an audio component and he said yes. (So why hasn’t he been using it??! Sigh.)</p>
<p>Creekland, I would definitely get that checked out. My eyes are definitely declining with age…</p>
<p>Barnardmom- so good to hear your daughter is recovering okay… </p>
<p>I have been trying to help D research jr colleges for summer school. Also had to run by the HS and drop off transcript request. She only wants to take 2 classes but will most likely end up taking them at 2 different schools. Will make for driving around but she needs to get them both in the first part of the summer. One of the classes she wants only has one section available. Hope she gets in.</p>
<p>She needs to pick her minor, she is between marketing and management. Looking at Study abroad next summer. She will be going to Australia.</p>
<p>rushedmom, Is the summer study abroad in Australia through her school or one of the companies that arranges them? I have been looking at various summer study abroad options and Australia was one that looked interesting. </p>
<p>Barnardmom, so glad that things have gone okay with your daughter.</p>
<p>Thanks. It funny, researching all these programs is like researching schools again. Apparently there are certain organizations some school seem to work through. Arcadia is one and IES is another.</p>
<p>Barnardgirl sent a text today that the results of testing on the spinal fluid were all clear so, while what she has could be serious if it doesn’t get under control (she is losing vision), it isn’t any of the scariest things- brain tumor, spinal tumor, lupus, MS, other oddball infections, etc. She will have a follow up appointment next week to find out what happens next. The meds she is on currently do seem to be helping with the pressure.</p>
<p>Her back is very sore where they did the lumbar puncture (spinal tap). They made many attempts before they got it right (ugh!). That has left her quite sore in the lower back. </p>
<p>It was good to be there and get more information about what is going on with her. I didn’t realize how much vision she has lost. Her peripheral vision is reduced 35-45 degrees on each side. So, where I can see things (very blurry, but I know something is there) that are near my ears, she can’t see things until they are about 35 degrees to 45 degrees in. That’s a pretty significant field of vision loss. They don’t know yet whether she’ll get that back or not. She didn’t even know it was gone.</p>
<p>I can’t help but wonder if that loss of peripheral vision helped contribute to her car accident. The neuro-ophthalmologist thinks this has been going on for a couple years… since I took her for an eye exam and the optometrist said “Her optic nerve is large- could be genetic, but keep it in mind in case something else comes up”. The neuro eye doctor said that doctor was a “knucklehead” and should have pursued further testing back then. That was 2-3 years ago. </p>
<p>I did enjoy being in NYC with D. We were able to go to out to dinner and took a long route from the hospital back to the hotel so I could see Times Square. I have to admit, I have been intimidated at the idea of going to NYC, but this trip got me over that anxiety. I do hope I get to visit her sometime when we can just have fun and see stuff :)</p>
<p>2016BarnardMom – Thanks for the update. Hope the peripheral vision is recoverable. Hard to hear the story about he optometrist. I’m guessing they just don’t see many things like that and so don’t know what to do with them when they do. We have gotten a little annoyed at times when our pediatrician refers on what seems like nitpicky stuff, but I guess he has the right idea.</p>
<p>Not sure what we were thinking, but W and I agreed to chaperone D’s band on their contest trip tomorrow. I get the boys’ bus and W gets the girls’ bus, yellowhounds, for a 200-mile round trip. Whee!</p>
<p>Just a general health center question - are health centers allowed to speak to parents? I went to the health center the other day after an injury, and the doctor spoke to my mom (who is also a doctor), after I called my mom from my cell phone. Underneath HIPAA guidelines et all . . . is this technically allowed?</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad the doctor spoke to my mother, but I was wondering whether or not it is actually legal.</p>
<p>When I got a kinda scary possible diagnosis last year my husband called the doctors office back and they spoke about it. I imagine they get that he’d have no way about knowing about the conversation unless I told him. Sometimes these regulations are just a ridiculous hoop jumping exercise. I think doctors can discern when to talk to a patients family.</p>
<p>barnardmom - I’m glad there is nothing more serious, but you hate to put her through that to not get a definitive answer. How’s the headache? I’ve heard it can cause rebound headaches sometimes.</p>
<p>My own evaluation of her peripheral vision showed it was close to even on both sides although she thinks it is a little worse on the right. I just moved my finger until she could see it and judged about where that spot was. </p>
<p>This procedure was necessary for a definitive diagnosis. She hasn’t gotten a spinal headache from it yet, but still could. Her back is really hurting because they stuck her so many times. She had to sit in class for several hours in a row today and was hurting. </p>
<p>Health centers can speak to parents with your permission. I believe that was on one of the forms she had to fill out before orientation. If you have them listed as an emergency contact, I would think that would imply consent also. If you call and hand them the phone, you definitely consented. I know I fill out papers with each new doctor and have to list people they can talk to. </p>
<p>This condition could still be fairly serious if the vision loss continues to progress. She did make a work plan today to get caught up in school. She’s hoping to get it done within the next two weeks. She will be very busy. I told her she should slow down a little with some of her ECs and focus on just school and her sorority new member period. She agreed. </p>
<p>Again, Barnard school personnel have been terrific and very supportive. I’m so glad for that. I’m not sure she’d have gotten this kind of personalized attention everywhere.</p>
<p>Barnardmom, so glad to hear the really “scary” stuff is off the table. I hope the vision returns, and that she continues to make positive progress.</p>