Finally have my computer back and all fixed after almost a month without it. It was a difficult month. I went to school before there were accommodations. I never saw a student with a physical disability and those with mental ones I supposed went into special education. Non English speaking students disappeared to where I don’t know. There was no such thing as ADD or ADHD, just unruly children who refused to sit still in class. In high school there was a student with, I believe, Giantitis (sp). He was very very large and tall. Students teased him so much that he was transferred to where I don’t know. As an African American female with a military father right after the military was integrated I was always the only African American in the class. The worst time was during Negro history week when the only history covered was slavery. Every child in the class turned and stared at me until the lesson was over. The teacher never ever told the kids to turn around. Besides the term “normal,” the terms “other” and “non white” need to be abolished. I noticed the changes in accommodation as an adult and wondered how people lived before. Following a car crash I personally experienced physical disability and grew frustrated with the lack and limit of accommodations such as a stair railing that was too short and having to wait for someone to help me reach the top. I also had to deal with the lack of elevators and unaware people kicking my crutches and not even noticing, as well as automatic doors that closed too soon so I was stuck in them. Still there are issues that even handicapped don’t understand. One is the handicapped bathroom is not only for them although they should have priority. Also, not all physical disabilities are visible and some people need the higher toilets and bars to help them get up. Mental disabilities are very difficult if they are not obvious. I constantly struggle with this and have just given up on people understanding. I make jokes and try desperately to organize papers and rearrange email messages so I can follow them and understand what people want. I was once thrown out of a class because I missed two sessions because of headaches so bad I wanted to stick a nail in my forehead. The headaches were the result of a head injury. I can’t imagine what students go through.