First day

[cosmolinguist]

Grumpy that I've got no better recourse for finding the room my "Welcome Talk" will be in tomorrow morning than turning up early and hoping there's someone to ask.

Andrew offered to come with me to help me find it but that's not going to be easy for someone who woke up at three this afternoon; it's basically an accessibility issue for him too. And it costs money in bus fare. And it's just not fair because that shouldn't be his responsibility and I hate feeling dependent on him.

I booked my Disability Services meeting a month ago for as soon as I could get it, but that turns out to be Tuesday. I know this will be a busy and nightmarish time for them, but argh. Hopefully I will be a bit less confused for the rest of the week. There are a bunch of other rooms I have to find after these first ones tomorrow!

Comments

[barakta]

At disability services meeting ask about some orientation training, sighted guide or buddying options - it will be too late for some stuff, but they may have some options. Explain the problem as accurately as you can and let the adviser think of solutions, it's not Andrew's job to be your support worker or yours to feel guilty for struggling with what a sightie would not think twice about.

Brum have some "student mentors" who can help people "voluntarily" with intro week stuff as well as official DSA style roles which are still DSA-able "sighted guide" stuff. Some blind people get official orientation training too.

In the meantime, turning up early and asking is the best plan, if nothing else turning up and asking a reception of building style person to help is not unreasonable. None of this is your fault, in a fair world there would at least be a "here's Foo, they can be your buddy to help with shit in the interim chaos period while we sort stuff".

Hope welcome talk goes OK tomorrow, disability talk is OK Tues and Welcome/intro/Fresher's whatever the fuck Manc calls it week is not too exhausting, annoying, stressful etc.

[cosmolinguist]

it's not Andrew's job to be your support worker or yours to feel guilty for struggling with what a sightie would not think twice about.

Oh indeed, I have no guilt and no uncertainty about this at all.

Talk went okay. Turns out no one could find the damn room it was in, and after we finished, people couldn't figure out how to get out! In a bit is departmental "party" where I'll hopefully be able to start making myself known as the blindie/mature student/general awkward person. :)

[barakta]

*grins* yay for no guilt, very glad of this indeed :) :)

Remember you're fab, funny, quirky, different and bring some FANTASTIC perspectives to the group just by dint of your experience, existence upbringing etc. Just make out that you're a MAHOOSIVE linguistics nerd and see if you can find the other nerds and you'll be fiiine! Oh and talk about beer, proper beer, I'm sure you'll find the proper beer people too! :)

Wishing you luck, sociability and spoons for the newness of newness