Special Education and Schizoaffective Disorder
When I was in High School, there were three types of classes; University Stream, College Stream and Special Education. I was in all University classes. They were completely separate from other abilitied classes. In my day, they didn’t have Educational Assistants to help the neurodivergent or other disabled kids. I think my average graduating in grade 12 was 90% or so and I was accepted to all 10 Universities I applied to. I was even offered a Scholarship for Volleyball to Niagara-On-The-Lake and I considered taking wine-making. But when I was accepted to The Queens Castle abroad, I accepted their offer right away. Which now, I think might have been a mistake. But I’d love to be proven wrong, Queens community?? Queens is not that great of a school. They marked so low and the delivery of their courses needs some work. There are men in my class who hang out with and work with celebrities like George and Amal Clooney, Cindy Crawford and Cindy Crawford’s husband. One of my classmate’s was on a TV show for antiques and artwork and another boy’s Father was an Iraqi Diplomat who got his PHD at Oxford. But it all doesn’t matter anymore… I wonder if anyone cares about me in this crowd.
Schizoaffective Disorder usually affects men in theirs 20’s and women in their 30’s. This is when all those accomplishments stop mattering. I was about 25 when I was affected but it took many years, therapist, social workers and hospitalizations for me to finally realize what was going on. It wasn’t until I read the discharge forms from KGH that I saw the word Schizoaffective Disorder and I kind of woke up. They also put me on a medicine for the first time in injectable form so they were sure I was taking it.
For people with physical disabilities, this post might not hit the spot. I’ve been around other Schizoaffectives and I find it easy to share with them and we have a lot of commonalities. But I have broken my ankle before and know how hard that was. When it is your brain that breaks, it can be a very vulnerable and a humbling experience. You are probably a lot sharper than us. But we’re in this together and maybe we can help each other out.
Today, I might not perform like I did in High School and I’m adapting to life. Accommodations are something I never had to think of and now when I’m at the Yacht Club I’m wondering where the wheelchair ramp went and if they’re hosting a sailing event for the blind this year. They used to do that. As I get older, I am seeing the world in a different light.
I don’t think what happened to me was all bad, I’ve really learned a different side of life. I used to be so busy and never had the time to slow down and they say that my illness was stress induced.
I was raised Catholic, I think church is ok if you like it, they taught us about caring for the disabled, I just never knew I would one day be part of them. When I was a kid, my parents were part of the Rotary Club and they used to do an Easter Seals event where they would gift disabled people with presents that were donated. I’m so glad that my parents exposed me to that. It was a really great cause.
I never was exposed to disability culture. I was never taught how to believe in myself despite difficult circumstances. It was very strict and always looking for achievements. So, I have to say, this is a really great experience to have accessibility culture at my finger tips online and in my Assertive Care Treatment Team. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again that these people really do make my life special. I do feel that.
