u/Agreeable_Window_309

So I'm planning on getting a service dog for my autism (decided on standard poodle), but when talking with my mom she's worried about how it will effect me socially in college. If anyone here has pros and cons socially to having a service dog in college and has perspective on with and without one how it changes things I'd love to know. I don't know if it's something where people will be avoiding me because I have a disability or not. And also whether maybe me going to art school might change how people respond to me having a service dog (if they'd be more chill ig).

Also if anyone has any tips for raising a puppy/service dog in college I'd love tips!! I already have 3 top breeders lined up which all has bred many successful service dog prospects!

Edit: I don't have socially anxiety with a service dog, I've had one before but was homeschooled at the time. I actually enjoy when people ask me about my dog because dogs are my special interest and it helps me talk with others when it's about something I like.

I am going to college in the US in the fall (moving for the first time across the country) and I applied for a single room accommodation. I've had it in the old jr college dorms I lived in and it was a life saver in so many ways. I have an ESA for my autism (diagnosed with level 2 but closer after tons of therapy and work to level 1 presenting on good days). I do fine in a suite since I am easygoing for the most part. Though I need my own space. I need to recharge at the end of the day and stim dance, sing, listen to music without heaphones, think aloud, and also be able to be alone to fully reset in order to function. I have other medical problems that make it hard to share a room as well, I have seizure like episodes that make people uncomfortable from what I've been told, I have mobility struggles and sometimes need a mobility aid to get around, migraines, etc.

I applied and got approved for a single room at my college... but they didn't have a room for me and now I'm going to be placed with a stranger and it wouldn't be fair to impose my needs onto someone else. I also can get grumpy being constantly around people for too long and don't want an issue with my roommate if/when that happens. I can't have my roommate trying to study while I'm having a meltdown.

Like I've said, I've lived fine in dorms before with my single room accommodation, I've been told I'm a decent person to live with and be around, but that ofc is with the barrier of a wall and door to give me time alone. And it isn't about privacy exactly but an area for me to fully unmask verbally and physically and even if I put up a barrier in the room they would still be there and I would still to some extent need to mask. And like I said I also don't want to inconvenience them with all this. They already said they were chill with my ESA, but they are already a cat person so it isn't any time of inconvenience to them.

I have no clue what to do. My only thought is trying to get my car there somehow and living in it most of them time other than to do stuff that can only be done in the dorms, but that doesn't sound reasonable. the dorms said they can't do anything, and I am unable to get an apartment my first year there (at least my first quarter). It's already going to be stressful moving across the country but then moving in with someone I don't know, and going to do classes that I've been told are super intense. It's just a lot but my parents won't let me wait to get on with my life any longer.

I have no clue what to do...

Hi! I've been in the SD community for about 7 years and have a retired owner trained SD who was an female english mastiff. I don't want a that large of a dog again and I don't want a dog with that much drool lol. I also am worried about getting a lab or golden retriever since I've never had a high energy dog and I am physically disabled, while I can walk a dog on shorter walks, I don't feel I can commit to more intense high energy breeds. I also plan after finishing college in a few years want to do van life and want a dog that is a little more intimidating or at least has a scary bark lol. I don't want a super large dog, and I don't want a super small one either. I know a ton of dog breeds but for some reason it's hard finding one I would want as a companion for the next 10 years or so. I'm worried if I go too intimidating (rottie for example) it will cause issues. I'm so stuck about how to proceed and I want to do the fab 4 but I need a more mellow dog that will be able to adapt to me. Every lab I've known has been super hyper especially when young, much more than the breeds I'm used to. The dog would be for my autism mainly and maybe some assistance for auras and some mobility help (picking up stuff). Also I would spend two years before doing van life with the dog and would have the largest van I can get to give the dog plenty of space and would try to only be traveling for no more than 4 hours every 2 weeks or so. I don't go out too much and plan on being an independent artist just traveling around wherever, so thick haired breeds may be a bad fit due to potential heat concerns. Again would love some thoughts (please don't start hating on me for not wanting the fab 4. I've been researching for years and lab and poodle have been at the top of my list but I'm not sure how well they would work for me, plus I haven't met many poodles so I don't want to get one due to that.) If the dog doesn't work as an SD it would then be my at home SD or just an ESA (I've had an ESA since my old SD retired)

I want to do my first car camping roadtrip after a fully get my license. But I'm not gonna lie I'm still scared of driving. I'm scared about making a mistake or another car doing something. I really want to take the first step and go on just a 2-3 day roadtrip after getting my license, but does anyone have advice for a brand new driver (I'm talking doesn't even have a license yet lol) on starting to drive longer distances and actually enjoy it without have a nervous breakdown lol. I love traveling and hope after college to get a dog and travel the country going to remote spots but first I need to actually enjoy driving or that dream won't be too realistic. Would love some help. So far the longest drive so far has been about 15 minutes lol. The main things that stress me out are curves and being around a lot of other cars

(Also side note any advice about living in a van with a dog and also when to start building the van and what type to get?)

Recently I was told I have seizures and some type of seizure disorder I'm still working on getting diagnosed... which for obvious reasons means I can't drive anymore. I'm not sure where to go from here and it feels like things are falling apart. I honestly was going to just get started with van life in a few months due to some other life stuff happening recently, but now it feels hopeless. I can't do public transit for a variety of reasons (not comfortable getting into), but I have no clue what to do now. Would love any advice or anything. I'm 19 so I know I'm young and there's tons of time left for things to change, but my home life isn't great and I just wanted to live more freely.

Hi! I am going to start a youtube channel soon and am wanting some advice on what to expect in some areas. Some background about me is that I am an artist and am disabled and cannot work full time. I recently got diagnosed with seizures... so I'm probably going to have some spare time to work on whatever while dealing with that. I want to start posting my art and music and maybe some talk videos about disability stuff. I would like to down the road make 2-3k per month from my videos, but not sure how long it will take to get there. I plan to post every week 10-18 minute long videos and maybe have an extra post in a month to make it 5 videos a month. If I keep around that pace and if my content is entertaining ofc how long will it take to get monetized and start making some good money? I'm so lost on what to expect and so thought I'd ask here for advice.

I was suspected of having seizures. For reference since I was 13 I've had short bursts of full body shaking (or my right side tensing up and shaking) normally with an odd feeling beforehand that has only got worse over the years. In the past few months the shaking has grown from 3 seconds to 9 seconds with several minutes of a distressing feeling beforehand (ranging from disabling dizziness, vision issues, feeling weird pressure, or other weird feelings before). One of my doctors thought it might be focal aware seizures but wasn't sure. Jump to now where I had a 48 hour long EEG and they picked up no epileptic activity and said it was non epileptic seizures and was triggered emotionally. I've been in therapy for a long time, I know what triggers my anxiety and am very self aware and these seizures will happen for literally no reason except for intense breathing or randomly. I of course understand if it's not epilepsy but am just thinking I'd check here to see what the chance of if it is some type of focal aware seizure of it not being picked up after having several episodes while doing the EEG. I understand it is probably PNES, but I seriously don't think there is a trigger I wouldn't know of (or why it doesn't happen when I'm stressed). I don't want to say the doctor is wrong, but he was very dismissive of my concerns. But I want to know if there is a chance and how high it is they may have missed something.

(other note in case important is I tend to have the full body shakes 6-15 times a day)

Edit: Forgot to mention I'm awake and aware during the seizures, also that I have had many concussions in the past from sports when I was younger and two in the past 2 years

Hi! I’m currently about to start college as an artists but one of my dreams for years is to either convert a bus or van into a home and just travel and be around nature. Though I’m wondering if it’s worth it and what I need to know while planning for it. I have 4 years to prepare to go full time. I plan to have a cat and/or dog with me, I want my van to have a toilet and shower, and I want to really make it look nice and have a cottage vibe. I’m wondering besides the van how much I should save up and what is a good monthly budget to live more than comfortably? I love traveling and going places, doing new things, and just exploring. I don’t have that many belongings, and I don’t like having much tbh. I could probably pack up everything besides clothing that I care about within two backpacks and not look back. I also want to do vanlife to allow me to pay back student loans easier after school. I’ll probably be making 2k to 2.5k loan payments per month after school and so vanlife costs would make it easier to manage. I‘ll probably be on my parent’s car insurance so I’m not worried about insurance costs. I’m open to any advice, from tips on building a van and resources how to get started, budget, traveling in a van, where to sleep at night, how long it’ll take to build the interior of a van and the costs, really anything and everything that seems important. Like I said I have 4 years to plan and save up and start building, and will probably spend my breaks from college working on the van.