By Sarah Szczepanski
Staff Writer

Adjustment is a key word for those students at Purdue who are diagnosed with certain medical conditions. They spend their time sleeping, eating and studying just like the rest of Purdue's population — college life just requires a few minor adjustments.

Ally Matt, a freshman in the School of Liberal Arts, must deal with her own adjustments each day.

Eighteen-year-old Matt was born with a medical condition known as Lebers. This condition severely limits her eyesight to the extent that if there is not enough contrast between light and dark, she cannot see.

College life does offer its own challenges for Matt. Many aspects can't be overlooked, such as having to cross the street going from the residence halls to campus.

Matt said, "I listen for cars. It also helps if I see people right by me cross."

There was also the question of how Matt would adjust to finding her way around campus. She came to Purdue early last summer to meet with an orientation and mobility instructor, who worked with her to see landmarks to know where things are.

Ironically, one of her favorite hobbies is reading. Matt uses Braille, even though she can read words that are about 1-inch large in bold print. She owns a special computer that will read out loud what is on the screen. The computer also offers a screen enlargement.

Other than the technological advances that help Matt continue her education, it is her attitude that carries her through. She grew up in a supportive family, where college was encouraged.

"I was never treated differently," she said. "(In high school) there was never any doubt that I could go to college."

Matt is majoring in psychology with aspirations to go to law school. She possibly wants to specialize in family, disability advocacy or juvenile law. "It's important for someone with a disability to go through college to get a professional degree," she said. "These things have to happen for people to realize you are not helpless because you have a disability."

Shannon Harris, a senior in the School of Health Sciences, is doing things each day that others might deem impossible with her conditions.

Harris, who is diagnosed with fibromyalgia and endometriosis, faces each new day with an uncertainty of the degree of her health.

Fibromyalgia is a stabbing, burning sensation that happens throughout the muscles of the body. The pain varies with each day. Some days are good and some days are bad.

Sometimes, Harris' doctor appointments would include receiving 15 to 20 shots. Included in these medications is treatment for her other ailment, endometriosis.

This Purdue student has undergone five surgeries for her disease.

Being sick much of her life has put a toll on Harris.

"I was always told that I should just go to a two-year college and settle for that degree," she said. "I think those words of 'you'll never be able to do that' have haunted me throughout my college career."

This pre-med major has done nothing close to settling. In fact, before she even graduated high school, she had 36 college credits under her belt.

Harris, who is scheduled to graduate early in December, plans to attend graduate school. Her options include the obstetrics/gynecology, nurse practitioner or medical school fields. But she is not stopping there.

"I want to one day give lectures to teach people that disabilities only add to one's uniqueness and that some of the best things that can be learned are from those people who don't live a flawless life."

Much can be learned from Harris, who does not believe that she should be treated differently than anyone else.

"I also don’t think that individuals with disabilities should be classified any different than anyone else," she said. "They are normal people like everyone else; they just have added challenges in their lives. Anyway, what is normal?"