Question: I'm having a flare-up of my IBD and I'm missing class. What can I do?
It can be difficult, for both the student and the professor, when a flare-up of
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause a student to leave class in the middle of a lecture, or miss lectures or exams altogether.
Answer: The best way to stop a problem such as this is to prevent it from happening altogether. As a student, it is important to
take care of yourself so that you're as healthy as you can be, and to attend class as much as possible without endangering your health further. After all, you're paying to learn, so you don't want to waste your time and money. If you're making an honest effort, your professors and other staff members will recognize that, and be more helpful to you if you do have problems. Attend office hours when you can, and
open a dialog with your professors and your advisor. If you think your IBD could get in the way of your attending class or taking exams, you can even tell them about your health problems before it ever becomes an issue.
It is true, that even when you do everything you can, there are still some people who will not be understanding. If you truly think you are being treated unfairly because of your IBD, you can contact the university ombudsman. An ombudsman is an arbitrator who takes an impartial stance and works with students to resolve conflicts with the school. The ombudsman should only be contacted when the student has exhausted all of their options to get a situation resolved. An ombudsman may also help identify new courses of action to solve a problem for a student.
The ultimate goal is to make the college experience rewarding on all levels. Many colleges and universities have programs already in place to help disabled or chronically ill students. Getting in touch with an advisor or other staff member and finding available help -- even before it's needed -- is the best way to start a great college career.
