I got my meeting with my college Vice President about ADA accommodation for my PTSD after getting tenure last month. When I came to his office, he had the head of human resources there. I thought, "uh oh."

Then he came. I repeated the situation to him again, and the only negative thing he said was that the school couldn't have me be canceling class because a disruptive student triggered a PTSD panic attack for me. I agreed, and let him know that I didn't want the disruptive student to be punished. I just want for her to be settled down because though I wouldn't get the credit, while I've been putting up with her all semester her grade has gone from an F at midterm to a C now. The right person, not me, ought to tell her not to blow it now. Plus, I need for her to stop disrupting my class. It's not the greatest bunch to teach to begin with, but we've only got 3 more class meetings and I can get through that much.

Somehow that changed the tone of the meeting. Next thing I knew the head of advising was promising me that she'd have somebody meet with the student before my class tomorrow. Then she gave me a hug. So nice. What the h---? Pinch me to make sure that I'm not dreaming this, but I think I was treated fairly with my PTSD today. A lifelong first.

As for the rest of the meeting, I told the Vice President and the head of HR that I couldn't see myself teaching first semester freshman any more, only upper level students. Freshmen get squirrely even when helped, like this disruptive kid has done. The Vice President said that was ok, it was true of him, too. The youngest students he could teach were the ones at the 2nd year level.

I also told him I was canceling teaching summer school because tomorrow I'm finally seeing the psychiatrist I've been waiting to see. I'll be getting Seroquel again for since I'm medically allowed now the first time in 5 years with my kidney disease. It always takes time for me to get used to meds again, so I shouldn't have summer classes as my responsibility while I adjust to them. He agreed to that, too.

I added that for next year I'm going to be editing material out of my death and dying class about war because it triggers me. He told me I could assign it outside of class. It was as if he still wanted for me to have my say about war, since I'm a PTSD survivor of it. I don't need to have my say, necessarily, but it was nice to see him say so.

The best part was when the head of HR then asked what they could do to accommodate me. I said just let me know if the accommodations I'd already suggested were ok. She said she thought I was going to ask for more. I said no, I just want approval for the changes I think are necessary. She said they were. I was really pleased. Like I said, pinch me to make sure that I'm not dreaming this, but I think I was treated fairly with my PTSD today. If so, a true lifelong first.