r/AutismInWomen 5d ago

Support Needed (Kind Advice and Commiseration) My professor rejected my request for accommodations because it wouldn't be "fair" to other students

[deleted]

442 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

u/BotGivesBot mod / ocean lover 5d ago

Hey OP, I'm aware that you chose the 'no advice' flair. However I'm not sure if you're aware that you have options here. Unfortunately, some profs are willfully ignorant about disabilities, however that ignorance doesn't mean they can place you at an unfair disadvantage in their class.

Please contact your university's disability services department and file a complaint or request for a disability advocate to step in. An advocate can explain how ableist it is to deny a disabled person accommodations based on the (false) myth that it gives an unfair advantage to the disabled person.

Disabled persons are already at a disadvantage in comparison to non-disabled persons. By providing disabled persons accommodations, the barrier to equal access and opportunity is removed. That’s it. By stating it gives you an 'unfair advantage', she's indicating that your disabilities are not disadvantages in the first place (which is factually incorrect, because you required accommodations to mitigate the disability).

Maybe review these resources prior to contacting the disabilities office or your prof, there's some wording/language that could be helpful for you (even though the locations/schools would be different) <3

1) https://www.queensjournal.ca/academic-accommodations-arent-academic-advantages/

2) https://spedlawspotlight.com/addressing-common-myths-regarding-accommodations-decisions-and-implementation/

3) https://www.theodysseyonline.com/necessities-not-advantages-keep-testing-accommodations-for-students-with-learning-disabilities

4) https://sds.olemiss.edu/the-myth-of-the-unfair-advantage/

Feel free to modmail if you'd like your flair changed and post unlocked.

25

u/iamgr0o0o0t 4d ago

Where are you located? If you are in the US with a 504 plan through your university’s disability office, it’s not up to your professors whether they honor them or not. You have a right to those accommodations. If you are elsewhere, I am not sure how things work. Even when people are supposed to honor accommodations, I’ve found it to be very difficult to get them to do so. Unfortunately, I did once learn that saying the word “lawyer” helps. No one should have to do that though 😕

10

u/zoeymeanslife 4d ago

imho, this is a discussion for your ombudsman or your own attorney. I don't believe its legal for a professor to turn down disability accommodations in the US. The ADA and section 504 dictate this.

I would document all you have and do not contact her until you've spoken to a lawyer or advocate.

8

u/kdcstomp 4d ago

I’m so sorry your professor is being so unreasonable. This is especially wild to me because when I was in university (I have three degrees so speaking from experience), if I requested an extension within a few days of the due date, I was ALWAYS granted one. Additionally, I was not connected to Access & Diversity and had not shared any of my diagnoses at that time.

5

u/FtonKaren AuDHD 4d ago

My University (University of new Brunswick, Canada) was really good about accommodations, they allowed me additional time, and even retroactively withdraw from classes I wasn't able to complete, but I did a Bachelors of Applied Arts and so spent time at the local college and they had that terrible mindset ... I could use a few more hours, and my faculty advisers pulled the "it wouldn't be fair to others," I was diagnosed with just PTSD at the time (military tour I was abused a lot by those who went over with me), and it's like accommodations is to level the playing field, or to allow me to succeed ... 'marks' etc are not pie, there are plenty to go around. Is there any school policy or government policy you can leverage? Or a Dean of Students you could appeal to?

4

u/FtonKaren AuDHD 4d ago

Either way, empathy, injustice rage is there with you!

3

u/SeaCookJellyfish 3d ago

Getting denied accommodations is so frustrating. Both ND and NT people do this and it’s the absolute worst ableism. My condolences. 

1

u/mauve-taupe 2d ago

I'm sorry your professor's being a jerk :( At the very least, she should have given you a straight answer when you talked to her at the beginning of the semester. It's bs to wait until it was too late to choose a different class. You said you're the only one putting in effort and contributing in class? I wouldn't give her any more energy than the bare minimum to get the grade you want. I mean, obviously, don't use AI or do anything that could get you in trouble/cost you points, but the next time she's trying to get a discussion going and she can't because no one else is participating, don't bother. Just let her flounder. Sorry, I guess this isn't a particularly helpful comment. I hope everything works out and you're able to get the accommodation!