Post by Danielle Jeudy, Student in the PhD ABA Program at the TCSPP Online Campus
My husband and I tried to conceive for a couple of years, and with no success, we embarked on the journey of seeing a fertility specialist. After months of testing, we finally came to a point when we could move forward with a medication regimen.
As 2019 ended and 2020 began, I explored Ph.D. programs in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), worked in for over 14 years, and came across The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). I have colleagues who attended the program and received great recommendations, so I applied. As Spring 2020 approached, my fertility clinic closed, which meant no treatment until June 2020, but on the brighter side, I was accepted into the Ph.D. program at TCSPP and would be starting Fall 2020!
As I prepared for the first day of class, I also got a call that we were pregnant! It was an exciting day for me, but then it hit me... I would be pregnant during my first year as a Ph.D. student and a first-time Mom during the remainder of the program. That was enough to increase my anxiety.
Fast forward a few weeks, and we got another surprise, not just one baby but two! After so many years of infertility, we were blessed with two babies, but that also meant double the work and a high risk pregnancy.
The first semester in the program ended, and I reached out to Title IX and Student Services to inquire about accommodations and taking a term off to spend time with the twins. Not only was everyone polite and understanding, but they were also quick and efficient. Through Title IX, I was able to receive accommodations to submit work early and late, and when I went into labor earlier than expected (32 weeks), my professors and Title IX were supportive and understanding.
To date, my twins (Camille & Chase) are still in the NICU, getting stronger and bigger each day. The accommodations has made doing my assignments in between feedings less anxiety stricken.
As I look back over the last year, I know I made the right choice selecting TCSPP to attend for my Ph.D. in ABA!