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College not following submitted accommodations (self.Blind)
submitted by wheresmyglasses12
Hello
I got approved for accommodations with ODS at my school and all of my professors were informed of my accommodations through a letter sent out before the formal beginning of the term.
Of course, none of my professors had read this letter by the first day of term--and I'm pretty sure there is at least one which probably still hasn't read it.
No big, as I discovered. Everything's online. I can deal with that for homework/classwork/notes. I'm permitted to record lectures. For a few assignments, I had to make individual arrangements with teachers to complete them in a modified format, but it's working so far.
Except then my midterms came. I sent in all the forms and got my testing location/time approved. They had no large print available for me and I could not do calculus on a computer. I had to wait to take my test an hour after everyone else because they first had to make sure they hadn't lost my exam, then had to make a new one, and move me to a new location.
Weirdly, although they have people to adapt materials, they said that the professor had to send a modified copy of the test to them--which my professor couldn't even do because the test was created by another teacher so that all midterms across the math department would be standardized. Also, shouldn't people who specialize in adapting materials know how to make a PDF larger print? I've seen teachers print them on larger paper and you can print the PDF, cut it apart, and enlarge individual sections on a copier.
What should I do to make sure this shit doesn't happen again with my midterm next week?
(also they never gave my professor my finished exam and he's now emailing me and ODS to try to find it so he can grade it! Fun times!)
I got approved for accommodations with ODS at my school and all of my professors were informed of my accommodations through a letter sent out before the formal beginning of the term.
Of course, none of my professors had read this letter by the first day of term--and I'm pretty sure there is at least one which probably still hasn't read it.
No big, as I discovered. Everything's online. I can deal with that for homework/classwork/notes. I'm permitted to record lectures. For a few assignments, I had to make individual arrangements with teachers to complete them in a modified format, but it's working so far.
Except then my midterms came. I sent in all the forms and got my testing location/time approved. They had no large print available for me and I could not do calculus on a computer. I had to wait to take my test an hour after everyone else because they first had to make sure they hadn't lost my exam, then had to make a new one, and move me to a new location.
Weirdly, although they have people to adapt materials, they said that the professor had to send a modified copy of the test to them--which my professor couldn't even do because the test was created by another teacher so that all midterms across the math department would be standardized. Also, shouldn't people who specialize in adapting materials know how to make a PDF larger print? I've seen teachers print them on larger paper and you can print the PDF, cut it apart, and enlarge individual sections on a copier.
What should I do to make sure this shit doesn't happen again with my midterm next week?
(also they never gave my professor my finished exam and he's now emailing me and ODS to try to find it so he can grade it! Fun times!)
matt_may 10 points 4y ago
I just graduated and this happened to me all the time. I got adapt at using an app on my phone to convert handouts to PDF that I could forward to my laptop.
I always ended up in a position of demanding my rights would annoy the overworked professor. The proffesor grading me. It’s a horrible position to be put in. Best of luck.
I always ended up in a position of demanding my rights would annoy the overworked professor. The proffesor grading me. It’s a horrible position to be put in. Best of luck.
[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
[deleted]
jrs12 4 points 4y ago
I hate to say it, but that's college accommodations for you. They are more suggestions compared to the legally binding documents that IEPs are. My advice is to make as many accommodations on your own as you can. Even if enlarged paper copies are easier for you, you are asking less of them to send electronic copies. It doesn't mean that it will always work well, but there is a higher chance of getting what you need. Use this as prep for your career. People won't be preparing materials for you anymore, so you need to find the way that's best to do it yourself.
ArcanaNoir 3 points 4y ago
My advice to you is two days before your test email your professor to politely remind them to send an enlarged version of the test to the testing center.
I teach college classes and also assist a very scatterbrained professor. An email sent close to the actual date is the best way to make sure your professor remembers to do the thing. Also usually a professor won't mind this reminder, in fact they will often ask you to send such a reminder.
I teach college classes and also assist a very scatterbrained professor. An email sent close to the actual date is the best way to make sure your professor remembers to do the thing. Also usually a professor won't mind this reminder, in fact they will often ask you to send such a reminder.
ArcanaNoir 2 points 4y ago
Also I want to add a little about why some teachers may ignore accommodations. Its probably not the same everywhere, but at my university when a student has accommodations every professor of that student gets the same email with the list of accommodations. What happens a lot is the student won't actually need some or all of the accommodations in every class, just in the classes they struggle with. So professors might not go out of their way to arrange extended time for an exam or provide class notes until they are asked to by the student. Otherwise the professor will have gone to the trouble unnecessarily. I'm not saying that's the right way to go about it, but that's what happens a lot. Especially in large lecture classes, professors can get a lot of students all with particular accommodations and it can be difficult to keep track of. So don't feel bad asking for your accommodations or reminding professors ahead of time about what you will need. Bonus points if you ask by email. If you ask before or after class then the professor might forget by the time they get back to their office.
ZippyTWP 3 points 4y ago
This blows, for sure. That being said, it doesn't sound like it's out of malice or laziness, it's probably all just really new to them (hell, my first five years in corporate recruitment went by before I interacted with anyone who needed accommodation).
Talk to the profs one one one during office hours, and find the admins for the departments. Make friends with them, they're the gatekeepers and I bet they'll make sure you're sorted out and make sure the profs don't forget.
ODS is great and all, but from my experience, they just punt it and Mark themselves compliant.
Talk to the profs one one one during office hours, and find the admins for the departments. Make friends with them, they're the gatekeepers and I bet they'll make sure you're sorted out and make sure the profs don't forget.
ODS is great and all, but from my experience, they just punt it and Mark themselves compliant.
moonpegasus19 2 points 4y ago
That sucks!
B-dub31 2 points 4y ago
That sounds horrible! I hope that you get this straightened out ASAP. If I were you, I would talk to my professors first during office hours and raise your concerns. Maybe this is the first time they’ve had to accommodate a visually impaired student and they underestimated or just didn’t plan for the test taking procedure. If it is still an issue after giving them an honest chance to make it, I’d then contact the department chair or maybe even the dean of the college.
TheBlindBookLover 1 points 4y ago
Hi. I would suggest making phone calls to your school DSPS office a few days along with the day before any test to make sure that your accommodations were arranged. I do not know what state that you live in, so I would look into any laws that would defend your case as well. Is a physical copy or electronic copy of your exam sent to your professor? At my college, an electronic copy is emailed along with the physical copy. If an electronic copy is sent, stay at your DSPS office until it is sent over to make sure. If you have extended time, this next idea would not work. I might even ask your professor if they would just enlarge it themselves. One of my professors told me that she has done this in the past so that it could get graded right away along with not needing to deal with DSPS. I hope that this helps.
God-Macabre 1 points 4y ago
Sounds like they are doing a poor job, but isn’t on purpose. If my experience helps, maybe for future semesters, always introduce yourself to the lecturer through email and by person and let them know who you are. My disability support centre sent me my memo, which they sent out to my faculty leader who sends it to my lecturers and just in case they missed it, which has happened before, I personally attach my memo when I write an email to o them and when I introduce myself I mention it. With support for tests and exams, I have had some slip ups but that was through my disability support centre. Maybe, like myself, request to do your tests electronically if you prefer as I’m able to use the Windows magnified to zoom in on their electronic PDFs. This may be a preferred option as it is less fiddly for them to enlarge text but I do not know if they will accept Microsoft word documents fornyou to write tests on like my university does but that’s because pen and paper is no longer an option for me. Hope this somewhat helps.
Namrakk 1 points 4y ago
ODS is most likely responsible for enlarging your exams for you, and they are likely unorganized/passing responsibility to the professor. I would schedule a meeting with the ODS director and find out how the duties of providing accommodations are divided between ODS and professors. I've dealt with this at three different campuses, and you really have to to be a proactive self-advocate. I would also schedule a meeting with the dean of students to discuss the issues you're having. Unfortunately, what you're experiencing is pretty common, but failing to provide these sorts of accommodations is an ADA violation and is actually a BIG deal.
Tldr: ODS front office staff is usually pretty unorganized/uninformed so schedule a meeting with the ODS director. Also meet with the dean of students (you can wait to speak with the ODS director first, but I would go ahead and meet with both to fix issues ASAP before we get even further into the semester).
Tldr: ODS front office staff is usually pretty unorganized/uninformed so schedule a meeting with the ODS director. Also meet with the dean of students (you can wait to speak with the ODS director first, but I would go ahead and meet with both to fix issues ASAP before we get even further into the semester).
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