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*ADA Accomodations in College: a thread*
At the beginning of each semester, ADA Services at my school sends my accommodation letters to each of my professors. Their response is typically a good indicator of how the term will go.
At the beginning of each semester, ADA Services at my school sends my accommodation letters to each of my professors. Their response is typically a good indicator of how the term will go.
One time, I had a professor email me saying, "I don't understand why you have an accommodation to get extensions on assignments; you should probably just work ahead so you don't get behind."
Today, I had a professor respond to the group email with, "I've had her in my class before and accept these accommodations. I look forward to having her in another course."
And here's the thing: at the end of the day, both professors were great (although the latter is my favorite), but *it's not the professors' job to understand accomodations - it's just their job to implement them.*
Generally speaking, they find out eventually because I explain the situation when I need something, but sometimes I don't explain the situation because I don't feel like disclosing my medical information for whatever reason - and I have every right not to.
I shouldn't be expected to work ahead all the time just in case my body decides to be a dumpster fire.
Accommodations aren't given for poor time management - they're given for disabilities.
Accommodations aren't given for poor time management - they're given for disabilities.
Another time, I had a professor suggest I drop out of school because of my health. The same term, another professor emailed ADA Services and copied me, asking if they could do anything else to help support me.
The fact that I'm disabled doesn't mean I'm not a good student. It just means I need a different type of support to have a fair opportunity to be successful.
Could I get by in college without accommodations?
Probably, but I'd struggle unnecessarily in ways other students don't.
Probably, but I'd struggle unnecessarily in ways other students don't.
Also, having accommodations has actually improved my health because it's allowed me to make my health my first priority, knowing I can use accommodations if I need them instead of making school my first priority and forcing my health to suffer as a result.
TL;DR - give students the accommodations they need and don't give them a hard time for it. It's hard enough to ask for accommodations in the first place; professors being difficult doesn't make anything better.
