Chris Wise Tiedemann

Chris Wise Tiedemann provides a useful book for physically disabled high school students and their parents, as well as for current or prospective college students with physical disabilities. Each chapter includes interviews with a variety of college students about the topic discussed in the chapter, extra resources, and an annotated bibliography of relevant websites. The author stresses self-advocacy and self-determination as crucial characteristics for students to develop, and is very encouraging and frank about the transition to independent living and adulthood that college can bring (for any student). Experts from the disability services offices at a variety of institutions also provide insights. A glossary of terms and a list of disability-friendly colleges round out the book.… (més)

As someone who has a physical disability and had the chance to go to college fresh out of high school, but declined; this book is God send. It has given me the courage that I need to go back to school better prepared for what I have to face and also give me the tools necessary for preparing to face college life.

Truly an invaluable source of information that I would recommend to any parents and student who are fearing the daunting task of preparing for college life with physical disability. There is hope out there!… (més)

My father was one of the early cardiac bypass patients in the US. That operation allowed him to live to be 57 instead of dying by 46, but he was still retired from the Air Force on 100% disability. Dad tried to attend college after he recovered from surgery, but was forced to drop out in his first semester. I'm glad to report that chapter six includes information for the disabled veteran attending college.

I have physical disabilities now, so I understand well what it means to have to plan my activities around how I'm feeling and the consequences if I overdo. I also remember what it was like to be on crutches for several weeks while attending a college built on hills, where I had to park at the top of one of them, and to slowly go up and down stairs to my classes because there was no elevator. In short, I have a lot of sympathy for students with physical disabilities who want to attend college. I'm glad they'll have this book to help them.

This how-to guide gives the potential college student timelines for what they need to do, sample forms, plenty of advice and tips, references (in print and websites), a glossary of terms, and a list of the most disability-friendly colleges in the USA.

I would urge the target audience to follow the advice about managing their time and health. Yes, it is so horribly frustrating when your disabilities get in the way of what you want to do for fun, let alone what you need to get done, but take care of yourself anyway. This is your future you're working toward.

This book advises being very truthful about the extent of your disabilities. If they get better or worse, I'd make that clear, too. Sometimes I have no trouble lifting 20 pounds, and sometimes I have trouble lifting a half-gallon of milk. How far and well I can walk changes, too. People used to me at my best don't understand why I can't do more when I'm at my worst. It makes me wish there were some kind of gauge I could wear that would show how much I can do at a time.

Don't forget that medicine is such a huge field that no one doctor can know everything. Be sure to have a copy of your medical records with you if they aren' available online. It might not hurt to have your doctors suggest book or article references on your condition in case you normally see a specialist and none will be available at your college.

I would definitely recommend this book for students with disabilities who want to go beyond high school for their education.… (més)