For the immediate problem of dealing with the books, have her or you invest
in a luggage bag that has wheels on it. Look for one that has the newer type
of long ergonomic handle and big wheels.  Trust me, they are a life saver.
Next, she needs to do something she should have done before the semester
started.  She needs to contact student resources.  Is she going to a
community college?  What type of help does she need in the classroom?  Is
she going to have to take some English courses?  Is she able to navigate on
her own and make friends by joining clubs?  Is she active in a church?
She also needs to advocate for herself.  If she had to wait for an
instructor, then she needs to contact the school office and complain. That
is unacceptable behavior from a faculty member.
Independant Living Centers are almost universal and she should be able to
find one through the local United Cerebral Palsy or Easter Seal's.  She
should learn to keep a contact list of people she's contacted and the
services she provides.  Warn her that she may need to speak to several
different people and if the language barrier is severe enough she can
request the services of a translator (ADA required).  Hope that gets her
started in the right direction.

Elizabeth Hill Thiers, OTR/L
email address: [log in to unmask]
homepage: www.bv.net/~john/bethsot1.html

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Richard Hudson
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 12:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: My Girlfriend <who has CP> and I need your help and advice
about college!


IM sorry for emailimg to all of you at once but it is VERY important at
least
to me and the woman that I love with all my heart. You see my girlfriend,
Mary Grace who was born and raised in the Phillipenes and came to America to
get an operation on her legs and to atten high school and has just started
college with a full academic sscholarship needs  your advice and so DO I.

I I dont know how severe her CP is but she can walk but not carry heavy
stuff
adn she dosnt reall know what type of CP she has either.  She is having a
tough time getting housing, gettin help with an aide and she is also having
problems with  learning English because it is not  her native tounge.

Below is a excertp from a letter that she sent me today. I removed all of
the
romantic stuff  from it  but the problem remains.

WHat can she do and where can she go to get help and do you  have any advice
you can give her. I sent this letter to nearly every mailing list that I am
on and most of the disabled people I know that are or have been to college.

PLEASE help us with any advice or onformation that YOu can give us. I will
try to look us as much as I can on my own but I have  never succeded at a
university and since Im looking for a job where I can use my skills in
reparing computers I doubt that I ever will.

PLease help us YOU can either respond to me or to Mary's email address at

[log in to unmask]

Thank you all for your help

Sincerely

Richard Hudson




Anyway... baby.. remind me why I'm here and studying? I have a very long day
today... I almost cry!!! my classes today kinda mess up rooms.. so I had to
find it with I carrying a very heavy books... I was so scared... I had noone
to talk there... Pls my teacher for english didn't show up.. so I sitted
there for almost 3 hours waiting for my next class... Baby I really wanted
to cry there... I can't go anywhere coz my bag is really heavy to carry
around.. So I didn't eat yet... Ealier I feel like I wanted to go back
home.. but I can't do that... I don't know I gotta do there either... I


I feel like I can't handle
this... I'm really scared and overload aboput all school stuff and
adjustment... :-( I really need you... I have no reason to stay here but
you... I will try my best to stay coz I know that you're trying your best to
keep your promises to me... But baby i really need alot kisses from you...
I love you...


your crying baby wife
MGPHudson