Spring 2008 Featured Scholar: Susan Anderson
Susan Anderson
Year: Senior
School: Portland State University
Major: Community Development with a Minor in Business
Estimated Graduation Date: Spring 2008
Favorite Class: GIS + Asset Mapping
Incight Scholar Year: Two
Internship Experience: 2 month Internship at Portland General Electric, 1WTC, in Human Resources- Communications Department.
What accommodations for students with disabilities have you found in colleges that are different from in high school?
One difference between High School and Colleges as far as accommodations; is the amount of lead time necessary. When I was in High School, and a last minute i.e. lunch meeting took place, all I had to do was go to the Deaf Resource Room and inform them that I needed an ASL interpreter, in my junior and senior year of high school, this rule changed. Here at PSU, they prefer a week’s advance notice. And sometimes, a week just isn’t possible; it’s one of the frustrating things about life.
What accommodations do you use and were they the same ones you used in high school?
In high school I had sign language interpreters, also had a class using Typewell, now in college I use CART (Real Time Captioning) due to emphasis on vocabulary, for the less important classes i.e. P.E, or for group meetings I use an interpreter.
What do you wish someone would have told you when transitioning to college?
Something I wish I had done, is gone to Community College first, I think my mother was right, if I had the choice, I would have liked to go to Community College first, in order to do better academically at PSU. But because I won a scholarship, my family jumped the gun, and I immediately went to PSU, skipping the idea of going to community college and then transferring. I wouldn’t re-do it for anything in the world, the friends I’ve made, the experiences I’ve had since coming here, regardless of academic difficulties from time to time, I don’t regret the choice.
What has been your favorite part of college?
My favorite part of college has to be the friends I’ve made, the stuff I’ve learned, the experiences I’ve had and that includes my current situations. I’m president of a student group on campus where I volunteer to teach ASL to those who want to learn. It’s not a huge group, attendance could be better; I do know that demand is there. Overall, PSU and these last 3-4 years have been awesome, but I can’t wait to be done.
