College Migraine Management: Self-Advocacy Steps for Success

Transitioning to college can be challenging, especially for students managing migraine. Here’s a step-by-step guide we made in collaboration with Migraine at School to help college students advocate for themselves and secure the necessary accommodations.

Step 1: Understand your needs

• Self-assessment: Identify your specific migraine triggers, symptoms, and the frequency of your episodes.
• Documentation: Maintain a detailed migraine diary and keep medical records from your healthcare provider. You can use the Migraine at School headache diary or use an app like Migraine Buddy or Migraine Insight.

Step 2: Use your 504 plan as a guide*

• Continuity: If you had a 504 plan in high school, you can bring it to guide your college accommodations.
• Documentation: Make sure you have a copy of your 504 plan and any supporting medical documentation. Your parents should know who to talk to at your high school.

*You might not have a 504 plan. Did you have a healthcare plan? Use that. If you did not have accommodations in place during high school, you should still follow these steps and talk about accommodations at your college.

Step 3: Identify the right office

• ADA Coordinator or Disability Services: The key person to contact at your college is often the ADA coordinator or Disability Services coordinator. They are responsible for implementing accommodations.

Step 4: Schedule a meeting

• Initial contact: Reach out to the ADA Coordinator or Disability Services office to schedule a meeting.
• Preparation: Bring your 504 plan, medical documentation, migraine diary, and a letter from your healthcare provider to the meeting. Download an easy-to-use letter you can get signed by your healthcare provider.

Step 5: Discuss your needs

• Presentation: Clearly explain your migraine condition, including your symptoms and how they impact your academic life.
• Specific accommodations: Discuss specific accommodations you need, such as extended test time, breaks during exams, or a quiet room. Use the accommodations from your 504 plan as guidance.

Step 6: Formalize accommodations

• Written plan: Work with the ADA coordinator to formalize your accommodations in a written plan.
• Understanding: Make sure you understand the process for using these accommodations in your classes.

Step 7: Communicate with professors

• Introduction: At the beginning of each semester, introduce yourself to your professors and inform them of your accommodations.
• Ongoing communication: Maintain open lines of communication with your professors throughout the semester regarding your needs.

Step 8: Utilize campus resources

• Health services: Use campus health services for migraine management and support.
• Counseling services: Access counseling services for additional emotional and mental health support. Or join a virtual peer support group.

Step 9: Stay organized

• Track accommodations: Keep a record of when and how you use your accommodations.
• Review and adjust: Regularly review your accommodations with the ADA coordinator and make adjustments as needed. You can do this each semester or each school year.

Step 10: Empower yourself

• Self-advocacy:Advocate for yourself confidently and assertively. You have rights and deserve to be helped.
• Support network: Build a support network of friends, family, and campus resources who understand and support your needs.

By following these steps, college students with migraine can effectively advocate for themselves and ensure they receive the necessary support to succeed academically.