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littlelily613
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04 Apr 2011, 10:26 pm

I had a meeting at the accessibility office at the school today, and while they are going to make some accommodations, I was kind of taken aback by some of the comments. I am notorious for misunderstanding people, so perhaps this was just another one of those times; however, I felt like I was basically being accused of looking for a free ride through university and refusing to extend myself. I felt a little offended because I am almost in my fourth year, and have never asked for assistance before. I also have a very high GPA, and I worked hard to get it that way (all without any prior exceptions from any professors). I participate when I can, as much as I can. I can't make other students like me, and there are some things I cannot offer no matter how much I extend myself. I am not looking to get away with not doing things that I CAN do, just to not be penalized for things that I CANNOT do. Has anyone else felt this way at their disability office at university?



Chronos
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05 Apr 2011, 1:39 am

littlelily613 wrote:
I had a meeting at the accessibility office at the school today, and while they are going to make some accommodations, I was kind of taken aback by some of the comments. I am notorious for misunderstanding people, so perhaps this was just another one of those times; however, I felt like I was basically being accused of looking for a free ride through university and refusing to extend myself. I felt a little offended because I am almost in my fourth year, and have never asked for assistance before. I also have a very high GPA, and I worked hard to get it that way (all without any prior exceptions from any professors). I participate when I can, as much as I can. I can't make other students like me, and there are some things I cannot offer no matter how much I extend myself. I am not looking to get away with not doing things that I CAN do, just to not be penalized for things that I CANNOT do. Has anyone else felt this way at their disability office at university?


My college had a very good accessibility center and even performed testing for applicants, but apparently, some schools are rather lacking. I have a family member who went to register and apply for accommodations with their school's accessibility center only to have the person there basically imply they couldn't help much, and to tell you the truth, I was a bit appalled and wondering what the center existed for except to take up space where they could possibly put classrooms.



daydreamer84
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05 Apr 2011, 2:22 am

My school has a good disabilities program as well........but I've gotten some nasty reactions from a couple professors. I need accommodations for my co-morbid LD too.



Chronos
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05 Apr 2011, 2:37 am

daydreamer84 wrote:
My school has a good disabilities program as well........but I've gotten some nasty reactions from a couple professors. I need accommodations for my co-morbid LD too.


I wouldn't mind them. I've met a few such professors myself and I've come to realize that their hostilities towards students who need accommodations are based on frequently inaccurate assumptions, as they usually don't know why the student needs accommodations, and, in the case of NVLD, ignorance on their part as to how the brain works. The learning disabilities specialists and neurologists don't claim to know more about English than English instructors or math than math instructors. These instructors have no merit in their knowledge, or lack there of, of learning disorders.



daydreamer84
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06 Apr 2011, 2:48 am

Chronos wrote:
daydreamer84 wrote:
My school has a good disabilities program as well........but I've gotten some nasty reactions from a couple professors. I need accommodations for my co-morbid LD too.


The learning disabilities specialists and neurologists don't claim to know more about English than English instructors or math than math instructors. These instructors have no merit in their knowledge, or lack there of, of learning disorders.


This is quite true!



Orwell
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06 Apr 2011, 5:05 pm

Yeah, the disability office at my university is terrible. They essentially claimed that, though I am obviously autistic, this does not classify as a "disability" because my IQ is too high, despite the fact that this interpretation is explicitly rejected in almost all the legal precedents concerning the ADA.


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kraken
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06 Apr 2011, 10:18 pm

Another reason professors may react poorly is the mistaken belief that you are a non-disabled student attempting to get out of doing your share of work. This can be particularly problematic when the disability is not readily apparent to the casual (or ignorant) observer.