Applying for Extra Exam Time Due to an Ostomy?

To anybody in education / university or who has been through this recently:





Did you apply for extra time in your examinations based on your ostomy? Provisions exist for people with medical conditions and disabilites to be given a certain percentage of additional time to complete their exams (these provisions are known as Special Measures). This is common for people with dyslexia, for instance, but I imagine applications from ostomates are less regular.





Has anyone applied for this and if so what arguments / evidence did you use to support your application? If I have to sit a three hour exam and the timing isn't right, I may have to take a break, for instance  - I would like this time credited if at all possible.





Ideally I'd actually like to sit my exams in a seperate room as if I don't snack on a regular basis my stoma makes rude noises. Not ideal either for me or the other candidates! Again, I'd be interested in hearing of others have successfully managed to make this arrangement.

Scott Chance



We have a special location on our campus where students are provided ample room and time to take an exam. There are multiple reasons for their need. The only thing we require is an official medical description and request provided by the physician. The student fills out a form and attaches the medical description. The only thing that is required is that the student present all of the materials at the beginning of the semester. The instructor is just informed by the office that the student is eligible to take the test out of the classroom setting and in the aforementioned space. The instructor is not told anything else. He or she must oblige and make sure that the materials are delivered to the office far ahead of time. The instructor will designate when and how long the student has to take the exam. The exam is subsequently returned to the instructor. As a college professor I have done this many times over the years with never any hitch. I believe that in the US, all colleges and universities are required to have this alternative testing site in place. I hope this helps.



X_

I requested special accommodations in that I could need to leave the room to tend to my appliance and it's tendency to do what it wanted, when it wanted. This included during exams. This was all managed through the disabilities department and my doctor provided a letter. Although I only applied it once when my appliance when on overload and basically started to peel off my body and to replace it, shower and dress would likely make me late for a test. Most instructors seemed pretty accommodating, but one who had many classes required a week advance notice if you missed an exam. Frankly I think the school would have pressured him to make an exception despite his policy to drop the lowest exam score.



Good luck!

Scott, I don't think your institution would be anxious to post a monitor with a stop watch timing your potty breaks down to the last syllable of recorded time (sorry X). In most testing situations, timing has a lot to do with the instructor's convenience and very little to do with academic competence. Every professional educator is interested in giving students an ample opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency rather than in smugly documenting their ignorance. TG we are well past those miserable days of yore when bell curve results were expected of every demanding teacher or professor. I spent a lifetime in education at all levels, and I can only urge you to be up front with your instructors and your institution on your legitimate needs. Sure, some of us can be certifiable assholes; but you'll always come out on top if you follow X's advice and be proactive in your own behalf.    PB