PSD and College

[mccoll95]

I don't have an sd....yet..however I do have an obvious disability ( 31F spina bifida, full time wheelchair user here!) and I am a woman who married another woman.  Technically I'm Bisexual but that's a whole other story 

I am disclosing this because it's relavent to my point..
If you are already noticebly/obviously different in some way (or at least a lot of people percieve you to be obviously different in some way) ie glbtq/person with a disability/racial or social minority/. then you already have experienced the stares/comments/ignorance(both the actual ignorance and the rude ignorance kinds....adding one more thing for people to stare at,make comments/be intrusive really doesn't make that much of a difference. At least that has been my own experience. The lovely part is now I get to have fun playing "guess why this person is staring at me with  their mouth hanging open like a dead fish, heads it's because i'm with my wife  tails it's because i have a disability "   I think for people getting an SD of any kind, yes one of the biggest considerations is the reaction from the public, but thank goodness having an obvious disability prepares you for this. As does having any non mainstream difference (in the OP's case being born a different sex than his actual gender (OP i hope i put that in a PC correct way). Nice to meet a fellow philadelphian

[LWolf]

Wow! I just want say I am amazed by all the support and replies I have received. At first, I was a little worried posting about me being trans, but now I
am 100% glad I did.

Roxie--That means a lot to me. 
Angie--People are jerks regardless of what you have going on. If you are "different" you are a target, yknow? Its great to meet you, too!
HumSD--I am still probably a year or so away from getting an actual SD, but I will probably be on campus when it happens. I plan to talk to security
if I get any problems. Thats a great suggestion. I'm sorry to hear about the transwoman at your school--that's just wrong.
Lizzie86--Its great that you did that. People can be such...arghs! How do you ask someone a question like that? Its just nonsense!
Louie--I'm sorry to hear that you had such a hard time. At least you put your best foot forward. Sometimes thats all I can think about when I am in
major "meltdown" mode.
Stag--Exciting! Another transguy! PM me and we should chat. I need some new friends, especially ones who are accepting and understanding of
my disability and my being trans! I'm glad people were so okay with you having a service dog(despite thinking they were going to get attacked, haha!).
Thanks for reaching out. 
AshertoAsher--Sounds like a lot of drama going on that you don't need. As they would say, I am smh! (Shaking my head, it took me a while to
get that one!) I couldn't get on the PSDS listserv because they said all the information I needed was on their site. I was a little baffled but I'm just letting
it slide. (Note: I don't have an opinion on them one way or the other.)
Mccoll95--Hooray to another Philadelphian! I don't live there right now (I'm in Norristown) but I do plan on moving back there eventually. My
program is in this area so I'm kinda stuck. :-P And you put your comment in a very PC way, no worries. Its frustrating that you have people staring at you.
But, it won't change for a long while...

I hope I responded to everyone. Thanks so so much for all the awesome replies!

Liam

[Linda]

I'm totally surprised by how much trouble folks have had getting into college and university with their SD.  I have to say that my daily experience at stores, parks and such is much the same as others have stated, but I never had a bit of trouble with the college.
I registered as a special need student, put down on the application that I would have a SD with me and never got so much as an eyebrow raised when we showed up for class.
I'm not sure why some people are having so much trouble with the schools.
Anyway, when you make the decision to enter into a public venue with a SD you are going to have to deal with the questions, stares, comments, rude behavior, "dog lovers", confrontations, people who want to pet your dog, people who take you leash away just all kinds of .  All you can do is protect your dog from these well-meaning individuals and go about your life.
My dog is an extension of me.  He goes where I go.  I wouldn't be happy without him.  But this is decision you have to make for yourself.

 

[coombzy]

I think it completely depends on your college! My university is located very close to two service dog organizations and there are puppy raisers left right and centre. It's very normal to have a puppy hanging out in a lecture hall. So for me, I actually had a far easier time at university than I do in a city further away where people don't know about or understand service dogs that aren't for the blind. No one asked questions, everyone assumed I was training my pup for someone else. It was heaven! : ) I think the only place the service dogs were not allowed were the labs which makes complete sense.

This is obviously an unusual situation and kind of ideal but I thought I'd share.

[hbechtold]

LWolf- I'm so sorry you already know how ignorant, rude, and mean people can be.  I'm not saying this is a good reason to get a dog, but the change of attention to the dog might be a nice change! You're cool with me! Hang in there!

[Roxie]

After following Asher's to-do with her college and her potential SD, I was shocked to find Big 10 University NE so open and welcoming of a SD on campus!

[coombzy]

Funny how university policies vary so much. My first university dealt with my exam accommodations so smoothly. There was never an error, nor questioning, nor constant bullying or power plays. My current university does all that for the exact same accommodations. You'd think I was asking for the moon rather than actually trying to remove responsibility/work for them. And yet, SDiT's are SO common, not a soul would bat an eye to see one in a lecture. The things you just don't know until you're a student!