Student Stories

A Parent's Perspective

Almost three years ago our son emerged from the school system with the offer of a place at Sydney University. As with school, there was no rule book or instruction manual as to how best to support him at university. Instinctively, we knew that our son would need a support person, at least at the beginning, and at the start of each semester. As there is no such person available, I support my son at Sydney University by attending his lectures and tutorials for the first few weeks of each semester. I do this in order to help him adjust to the new routines, to observe what is happening in his classes and suggest strategies for coping. Often I am able to see what my son can not, as he has great difficulty reading body language, understanding social situations, processing auditory information and isolating important details. I work closely with the wonderful staff at Disability Services who are able to liaise with university staff to provide special consideration and supports, raise awareness and engender understanding. It is really a team effort, and it is a combination that has worked for my son as he has attained outstanding results and is now beginning his third year. The lecturers in the faculty of Arts have been particularly kind and eager to do whatever they can to support him. In return they are rewarded, as only the other day a lecturer who had taught my son in his first year, welcomed him into his class once again, describing him as a "dream student". For me though, it is an honour and a privilege to be able to support my son towards academic success and fulfilment, and to meet and work with some special people along the way. More information on the Disability Services Office can be found at:
http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/disability/index.shtml