How one student’s disability diagnosis helped him thrive in college.
College can be challenging for anyone. Being disabled can complicate it further, but when you have undiagnosed disabilities? Well, it can make things feel nearly impossible.
Back in 2021, beginning my first semester of college at FRCC, I knew I had Tourette Syndrome (TS). I was very familiar with the difficulties it presented. The uncontrollable movements and sounds—called tics—were old news, as were the awkwardness and even physical pain they caused.
Going into college I knew that there would be days when motor tics in my hands and arms would make writing nearly impossible, days when I would lose my voice from the strain of vocal tics, or days when neck movements would trigger migraines.
Trying to Keep Up
Even though I knew I had TS, and was used to coping with its impacts, I was still struggling to keep up.
I tried, several times, to sign up for what I thought the “normal” number of classes was, and every time I had to drop classes because I wasn’t able to do it all. Many days, I was so overwhelmed by basic tasks that I could hardly get out of bed, let alone make it to campus. I was burnt out and shutting down. My attendance was spotty at best and I could barely complete my work.
I didn’t know why things felt so unmanageable. My service dog Watson was still in training, focusing on TS-related tasks. He was busy learning how to keep me safe from self-injurious tics and alert and respond to tics that impacted my breathing, so he wasn’t coming to class with me yet. That made things even harder.
I did have accommodations in place for my Tourette Syndrome, but I was frustrated that, even with those, school still felt nearly impossible.
Seeking Help
My grades were slipping, and I didn’t know what else to do. I wondered if maybe there was something else going on, something more than TS, so I sought out testing.
Then I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in January of 2023. You might think this was bad news, but I was so relieved.
Those diagnoses meant that all of the terrible things I had felt about myself, or been told—that there was something wrong with me, that I was a terrible student, that I was lazy, that I was weird, that I wasn’t trying hard enough, that things were supposed to be easy and the fact that I was struggling meant I was broken—were all wrong.
Finding Success
I’m not broken, my brain is just different. I’m running a different software from most people, so it’s no wonder the instruction manual never made sense.
I wasn’t failing, and I was never a failure.
With my new knowledge, with these diagnoses, I found the tools I had needed all along to succeed. Many of these things I could do for myself, and some were accommodations through Disability Support Services at FRCC.
Learning to Regulate
If I had to pick the thing that made the biggest difference for me, it would be sensory regulation. I learned from my Autism assessment that I have pretty extreme sensory processing differences.
I am both hypersensitive and hyposensitive to sensory input, which basically means my senses are often dialed up or down way too far. That means I get over or under stimulated really easily, and have to work actively to prevent meltdowns from my senses being dysregulated.
Staying Focused
I was able to train Watson with tasks that would support my Autism more specifically—things like leading me to and from familiar places when I get overwhelmed, or providing calming and grounding pressure during a meltdown. This, combined with the discovery of other tools I could use to regulate, meant that college life became a lot easier.
I often use fidgets to help me stay calm and focused in class. Fidgets are physical tools to help with focus and attention. Stress balls, tangles and fidget spinners can all be used to promote movement and tactile input that is critical for some students’ learning. They have a calming effect and help me to process what my instructors are saying, so I’m able to listen more attentively.
I also have earplugs and ear defenders to use when the world feels too loud. I have a weighted blanket at home for when I need more calming pressure than Watson alone can provide.
More than that, even, I found the power of having a way to describe my experience.
Understanding Myself and Opening Up
Being able to say to someone, “Hey, by the way, I’m Autistic. So if there is ever a time where I’m talking too much or something like that, please let me know. I might not notice otherwise,” has made social interactions much less stressful.
On my bad days, being able to tell someone I’m overstimulated and need a break is a game-changer. When those hard days happened before, I never knew why I was feeling bad, or what to do about it.
Having a way to describe our own experiences is so powerful. It allows us to communicate with others, sure, but it also gives us new ways to understand ourselves.
The Sky’s the Limit
Because of that understanding, I was able to become the person I am today. I’m on track to graduate with my associate degree in May, and I was able to find and participate in the community I’ve found at FRCC. I’ve been able to become a co-president of the Sociology Club and am now in a work study position on campus, all because I know my needs and limitations.
So now, if you meet me you’ll know that my name is Nico Wilson, and I’m a disabled and neurodivergent FRCC student. You’ll know I’m Autistic, I have Tourette Syndrome and ADHD, and I attend classes with my amazing service dog, Watson.
Becoming Proud of Who I Am
Over time, you might learn that I’m a part-time student, because that’s the courseload I’m able to handle. Turns out I’m not alone—80% of FRCC students take classes part time because of their jobs, families or other commitments.
You might also learn how much of a nerd I am, or how many random facts I’ve memorized to use as conversation starters. (If you ever want to learn about how dangerous staircases genuinely were in the Victorian Era, or extremely detailed breakdowns of how and why screen adaptations of different media succeeded or failed, I’ve got you covered.)
I’m open about my disabilities because I’ve found that sharing my experiences lets me be more myself. When everyone around me knows these pieces of my identity I don’t feel the pressure to mask—to be something I’m not.
Knowing and sharing who I am lets me be me.
Welcoming. Respectful. Inclusive. Together, we are FRCC.
