School scholarship for narcolepsy disabled?

Well given the way you have phrased your question - you do not appear to be college material to me. I suggest you take adult ed classes instead. That way there is little investment and if you sleep through them it is no big deal. There are also online classes you could take.

Your question and response after it don't really have a connection.

Are you asking if you should get a scholarship since you can not stay awake in class?

Are you asking if there is a scholarship available for you?

Are you asking why people with narcolepsy should get a scholarship if they might sleep through college?

There are many scholarships available for people with all sorts of disabilities, abilities, talents, life situations, etc. There may be a scholarship specifically for people with narcolepsy, some scholarships for people with disabilities may consider narcolepsy, others are strictly for learning and/or developmental disabilities. You won't be barred from winning a scholarship due to having narcolepsy (the scholarship committee doesn't need to know you have it).

You can lose a scholarship if your grade-point average falls below the required minimum. If the scholarships says you must maintain a 3.0 and you fall below, they aren't going to come looking for a reason, you would lose the scholarship.

Tips for a successful college experience:

1. If you haven't tried medications, look into them. Some people do great with stimulants, other feel not affect. Some people do well with sleeping medicines or anti-depressants that have the effect of suppressing REM.

2. Try to sign up for classes that are during your 'high energy' times of the day. I you know that you can not get out of bed for an 8am class, try to avoid it. If you know you will fall asleep during an early afternoon class, avoid it.

3. If your professor teaches the same class at more than one time, see if he/she will be flexible in which class you attend (if you sleep through the 11 am, can you go to the 2 pm class that he teaches that is the same course?)

4. Be open with your professors. You might fall asleep reading or doing homework in the library in between classes and miss a class or arrive late. If the professor knows that you can not control this sleep, a few extra tardies or absences might be forgiven. If they see you fall asleep in class they might think it is because you spend too much time partying or are not interested; if they know you really can't control it, they might be understanding and helpful. Have a buddy nearby that can wake you if they notice.

5. Talk to the disability support office. They can get you extra test time, a copy of the class notes or permission to record lectures.

6. Try to avoid caffeine if you know it will keep you awake when you want to sleep. It might keep you awake for class. I might also not feel like it is working until you crawl into bed at night and can't sleep.

7. If you live on campus, let your roommate know, they may be willing to help. Maybe you can give them your class schedule and if they notice you sleeping they can wake you (if they happen to be in the room at that time it's not inconveniencing them).

8. If you know you have a test where no excuses are accepted for missing it, have a few back up plans (mom calls, roommate wakes you, classmate arrives early with you and calls if you don't show up).

9. Go to office hours for help or meet with friends.

10. keep a consistent schedule (this may mean not going out with friend because they stay out til 2 am)

11. Do you work in advance. If you leave a reading for the morning before your class and you fall asleep, you could get a pop quiz and be screwed. Read standing up, if books on tape help ask disability services for books on tape, look for free tutors the college provides, read out loud with a friend (or free tutor if your college provides tutoring and you need someone to read with).

12. Take breaks during class. You are usually free to get up and use the restroom, take a walk if you need to. Stand in the back of the room if you need to, sit near the window and ask that the blinds be open for natural light. If the classroom lighting bothers you, talk to the school. Maybe they have a room with different lighting that they could put your classes all in (if florescent make you tired), or maybe they could make one.

If you live in a dorm, do not take the top bunk. If you sleep walk, hallucinate, act out dreams or have cataplexy this can be very dangerous! Make sure your roommate keeps their stuff clean, no need to hurt yourself because of a mess.

If you are taking medication that is highly controlled, make sure you can trust your roommate and that people of the opposite sex are no in the room when you are asleep if it is a sleeping medicine. I would not recommend getting your own room, unless you are in a suite with multiple rooms. Ask the school if you can get a locking drawer/cabinet in your room for your medicine (you may need a doctors note, but some medications just need an explanation of exactly what it is and why it needs to be locked up).

If there is a local college within a short (very short) drive, see if they offer what you want so you can commute (if you are able to drive). If you go away to school, avoid driving long distances alone or all at once. You may need to drive an hour and then take a rest, don't risk falling asleep at the wheel.

I know all people with narcolepsy have different levels of functioning, but stay positive and believe that you can do it! Go part time if you need to and work towards a career that you can successfully do. Ask for extensions if you need it (many professors are accommodating if they know up front), some offer extension beyond the semester by a few weeks.

Good luck!