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Accommodations I Got In School and College For Tics, OCD & Autism

  • In year 10 I had a reduced timetable on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I left at 1:20PM

  • In year 10 I missed most of my maths classes as my tics were worse in that class. I worked in the Pupil Support Centre.

  • In school I got a separate room, use of a word processor (laptop) and extra time on my exams. In college I also got rest breaks.

  • I had permission to miss assemblies and go to the student support unit instead. Assemblies are hard when you have loud vocal tics.

  • When I was in assemblies I would have permission to sit at the front so that I could leave easily if I needed to.

  • I was allowed to use a laptop to do work and take notes as my tics made writing hard (and I have terrible handwriting).

  • I was allowed to chew gum in maths class when I did attend as it reduced my tics.

  • I was allowed to skip the lunch queue so that I didn't get my head stuck under a person's backpack (I had a tic where I would bend down and touch the floor but the queue was crowded)

  • I was allowed to leave class 15 minutes early to calm down before my next class.

  • I was allowed to wear sunglasses in class as it reduced my tics.

  • I was allowed to leave class to work in the Pupil Support Centre whenever I needed to do so and I was also allowed to go to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator's office whenever I needed.

  • I was allowed to do Physical Education lessons without my kit in year 7 as long as I took off my tie and wore trainers. My tic-related OCD made it hard to dress myself.

  • I had math tutoring from a teaching assistant for half an hour once a week because I often didn't attend math classes and because I struggled with math in general.

  • In primary school and year 7 I was made exempt from homework as my OCD rituals took up all of my time at home. I didn’t have the time to do homework.

  • I was made a card on a lanyard which reminded me not to leave class without my bag, PE kit, pencil case, etc. I had issues with memory and organization so this card was put on a lanyard so that I could have that constant reminder and also not lose the card.

  • In my last year of college I was able to do almost every day through remote learning (even when not in lockdown) as my tics made it difficult for me to sit in class with everyone else.

  • My secondary school applied for higher needs funding to try and meet my needs, but my symptoms got better after this.

  • Substitute teachers were usually told about my tics before the class, so that they didn’t just think I was disruptive.

  • In year 7 I had a peer mentor, a sixth former who I could speak to about any concerns. I also spoke to the deputy SENCO in the mornings.




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