Re: Graduate School & Disability Accommodations Question

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Do you have an American Disabilities Association in your nearest city? Or a

vocational association. for my daughter.....of course she is not in graduate

school, I contacted the Learning Disabilities Association in our area, who

sent out an advocate for Ginny (and us, the parents). She is also lined up with

VESID after she graduates--they help individuals after high school, get

funding for employment adaptions, or school adaptions, depending on route they

are

taking. VESID stands for Office of Vocational and Educational Services for

Individuals with Disabilities. This office is through the New York State

Education Department. Is it possible there is something of the sort in your

area?

Just a thought.

Hugs,

Sue

[Guest guest]

From: Barbara J. Uggen-

Subject: Graduate School & Disability Accommodations Questio

My instructor made the required announcement to ask for a note taker for me,

but he wasn't familiar with how to handle the procedure of getting the notes

to me.

Barb, Another posible way to find out what to do, is find out which High

School in your area, educates you physically handicapped children. The Special

Education teachers have all the nessasary info and help their students make the

switch into college. They contact the college and if need be have the laws in

hand to have each college addapt to each childs needs. They deal with this very

issue all the time. And if need be they do support their students all the way

through thier entire college education.

Cindy C.

[Guest guest]

HI Barb,

You ask a good question. I think I can offer some suggestions, being a grad

student for many years now, an instructor who has had students with

disabilities, as well as someone with my own disability with the

fingers-holding-the-pencil problem. This problem is only getting worse in

the last year or two; grading papers makes is worse so this quarter I have

asked students to hand in assignments electronically so I can insert

comments with a keyboard. I am also in the midst of buying a laptop,

finally, so I can take notes in class and save my fingers.

I am assuming you are doing grad work at the University of Washington? If

you're not, not all my suggestions will apply directly, but they may make

you aware of possibilities wherever you are.

I have never sought disability accommodation myself, but I have seen the

kind of assistance other students have received from that office. I do not

know why they cannot provide notetakers. It does not seem fair, when they

CAN provide people to help proctor exams for students who need more time,

though they are reluctant to do that too. I suspect the issue is, quite

simply, a severe lack of funding which is affecting all departments across

the board.

However, here are my suggestions: Your graduate student body (most

departments have some sort of organization) may be able to request some

funds from the GPSS for you, if they have no brilliant ideas of how to use

the $500 each department is allowed to apply for each year. I don't know

what the criteria is for successful proposals, but you can check out their

website. It is also possible that (if you are on the UW campus) the Student

Technology Fee (STF) might be a source to plumb, but you would have to find

out how to submit a proposal; again check the GPSS website.

Another suggestion is to ask fellow students for notes--in my experience,

fellow grads are more than happy to let you copy their notes, but you need

to find someone who takes good ones; if you don't get to know fellow

students, ask the instructor who may well know who are the good students in

your class and can point you in the right direction. Most instructors are

not comfortable giving students their own notes, but you can always ask.

Does the finger bending problem extend to typing? It probably does, or you

would have tried to use a laptop already. More and more students are taking

notes this way.

I have also seen students with disabilities using recording equipment, but I

think they pay for this themselves, or through their insurance.

If you are on campus, would you like to have tea some time?

Sincerely,

Lenore

New address/phone #:

215-13th Ave. E

#107

Seattle, WA 98102

--

Lenore Hietkamp

PhD Program

Art History Division

School of Art

University of Washington

[Guest guest]

Hi Lenore,

> I am assuming you are doing grad work at the University of Washington?

No. City U, Renton Campus. UW is too expensive. I'm still paying off my

undergrad degree from UW. City U is also closer to my office.

My experience with UW in terms of note-takers and extended test times was

fantastic. My only problems with UW's Disabled Student Services (DSS)

office was in terms of phyisical access barriers. Denny Hall's ramp was too

steep for me to push myself in my manual wheelchair. Tthe elevators in

Balmer Hall were constantly broken down. There is only one disabled parking

space at Balmer Hall and it was frequently used by the school's own

maintenance people. Over my 4 years there, I never once had a problem that

wasn't resolved, although it did take some work at times - mostly with the

parking issues.

> However, here are my suggestions: Your graduate student body (most

> departments have some sort of organization) may be able to request some

> funds from the GPSS for you,

The money should come from the budget of the Disabled Student Services

Office. It is their legal responsibility to pay for my notes and to provide

the required accommodations.

> Another suggestion is to ask fellow students for notes--in my experience,

> fellow grads are more than happy to let you copy their notes, but you need

> to find someone who takes good ones; if you don't get to know fellow

> students, ask the instructor who may well know who are the good students

in

> your class and can point you in the right direction. Most instructors are

> not comfortable giving students their own notes, but you can always ask.

I have two classes. One class has a note taker, the other does not. The

school is refusing to pay for the copies made by the note taker. They are

also refusing to assist in recruiting a note taker for the other class.

This is the sole purpose of their office and they are refusing to do their

job. UW has a clearly outlined policy on note-takers including recruitment

procedures, confidentiality issues, and means of copying the notes. Neither

the student with a disability, nor the note-taker EVER was asked to PAY for

the copies.

> Does the finger bending problem extend to typing? It probably does, or you

> would have tried to use a laptop already. More and more students are

taking

> notes this way.

I have a laptop and I do take notes for class this way. It works well

enough in communications, but it does NOT work for math.

> I have also seen students with disabilities using recording equipment, but

I

> think they pay for this themselves, or through their insurance.

The UW DSS office provides the recording equipment at the school's expense.

It was offered to me at UW if I needed it in addition to my note taker.

However, City U has made it clear that they do not intend to pay for any

accommodation for me.

> If you are on campus, would you like to have tea some time?

Would love to, but I am nowhere near UW most of the time. The closest I get

is the Refugee Women's Alliance on MLK, which is still a bit southeast of

UW.

[Guest guest]

>

I have a laptop and I do take notes for class this way. It works

well enough in communications, but it does NOT work for math.

Have you checked into what might be available in the way of math

software that you could load into your laptop?

[Guest guest]

> Have you checked into what might be available in the way of math

> software that you could load into your laptop?

It is not a software issue - it is a typing issue and a conceptual issue.

First, the process of typing in the steps of the problem is extremely time

consuming

Max. 3a + 4b

s.t. 75a + 20b < 100

s.t. 100a + 30b < 50

s.t. 20a + 45b < 20

This is an example of the equations, but already in email, I cannot write

the expression in proper form because I can't underline the < to make it

" less than or equal to " . I also can't use the proper variables - " a " and

" b " above should be x1 and x2 with the 1 and 2 being in subscript. The time

it takes to format the subscript and the underline in Word would just put me

behind. It is possible and I have done it in my chapter reading notes

(which I started doing at Christmas even though classes only started on the

6th). By the time I complete typing the problem, I am already behind and

everyone else has it solved. Now, if there were software that would make

this process easier, it's the school's responsibility to pay for it, not

mine.

Second, it is conceptual - typing a math problem, for me, eliminates the

mental connection to it. I can't solve the typed equation without

physically doing it in pencil My brain needs to do the math. The problem

is, I can only do about 1-2 problems in class, and then I can't write

anymore.

Now, when we get into chapter 3 and above, there will be software to be

used. It actually came with the text book. At that point, everyone will be

using their computers at home to do the work, and it will be easier for me

to do the homework, but the lecture notes will still need to be written

notes with numbers and equations and graphs.

-Barb

[Guest guest]

I am not sure about the grad school level; but wondering if you have

contacted Vocational Rehabilitation? I know when I started the girls with

them I needed to use the 504 plan from high school. Locally the Voc Rehab

people are understaffed and slow to reply; and one has to be persistent.

As I recall one suggestion we had at one time is to be able to sit in the

front and record the class on cassette; or to get copies of other peoples

notes. (this was not at the grad school level) They did offer to get one

daughter a note taker with the proof of a functional analysis; though she

chose not to ask for this help. This was at a state four year college. At

this college the Voc Rehab people consult with the disabled student office

on campus.

As I mentioned we have had a LOT of problems with our local voc rehab group

and have tried the CAP program to iron out those problems. For us this

process just prolonged our agony and was another person we had to beg and be

persistent with; both times we found ourselves wishing we would have just

went ahead and done the appeal at state level; as CAP only complicated the

problems.

I think you are in washington?

http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/dvr/sitemap.htm

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/arthritis/living/vr/03

Individuals who are entering an educational program beyond high school

(college, university, technical school) must apply for federal student

financial aid. Once you apply, the VR counselor will work with the financial

aid officer to determine how your educational expenses will be met. Usually,

financial aid pays for educational costs and VR covers disability-related

expenses.

As discussed earlier, each state sets its own budget for rehabilitation

programs. The amount of money available for VR in your state will directly

affect the range of services and number of clients served.

In addition, each state agency receives its funds for a 12-month period

(fiscal years). The fiscal year may begin on January 1, or another date, and

this may vary from state to state. That means there will be more money

available at the beginning of the fiscal year than at the end. These

factors: budget, number of clients served, and timing in relation to the

fiscal year, may affect your ability to receive needed services even though

you qualify. Therefore, it is advisable to apply early in the fiscal year.

Contact the local VR office with specific questions.

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/arthritis/living/vr/04

.... Each state is required to have a Client Assistance Program (CAP). This

agency helps clients work out any problems they may have with their

counselor or program, that they have been unable to correct themselves.

Assistance from CAP is especially important when:

* the client and counselor have major disagreements over the IWRP or

* the client is considering an appeal.

[Guest guest]

You're the second person to remind me of voc rehab, and yes I will look into

applying for it. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

> Is there someone above this person in the Disability office that you

> can talk to?

Actually, I tried to call her supervisor, and she wouldn't let me through.

Instead she assured me that she had taken care of everything. Last night,

when I went to class, she actually showed up and met with me and spoke with

my instructor and the office staff to make sure I can get note copies. She

seemed to me like someone trying to do anything to keep me from taking

matters further. It's a shame that it had to become an issue and it's

possible that it could be a problem in the future, but for now the

immeediate situation is resolved.

> As I seem

> to remember you know a bit about the ADA etc. Is there a copy of the

> specific acts/laws etc that state that they must help you in everyway

> they can to make your life at uni less limiting etc.

Yes, it is section 504 of the Rehab Act and here is more info sent to me by

my MIL.

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ensure99.html

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq5269.html

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

> Is there a local disability advocasy group who can back you up in

> your fight to get your rights of a note taker, decent notes (without

Absolutely there is and I am a former managing officer and am currently on

the board of directors. They specialize in ADA issues and not 504, but they

can certainly put together a serious protest campaign. However, instead of

calling them, I spoke to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) yesterday. I can

file a complaint within 180 days of each incident and they will contact the

school on my behalf. Fortunately, the immediate issue was resolved with the

school by the time OCR called me back.

> I mean the people in this office's SOLE reason for

> being is to help students like you with things like note takers and

> THEY shold at least know what laws do cover them et and why they MUST

> supply etc.

They do know the law. They also know that they can often get away with not

providing accommodations by merely saying " no. " Unless you are willing to

fight them, you won't get the help you need. In this case, they backed down

as soon as I mentioned the applicable laws. It's also possible that the

assistant didn't know what she was doing and got in trouble when her boss

read my email yesterday (or was trying to avoid getting into trouble when I

called her boss).

> Good Luck in your quest/fight to get the note takers and notes that

Thanks. Last night, my instructor gave me copies of his notes.

Fortunately, my instructors are great. Both were willing to do anything to

help me out and were very understanding.

-Barb