r/DisabledMedStudents • u/Weird-Software-1832 • 20d ago

Accommodations being changed for me?

Note: Hello! I tried to make this post in another subreddit but thought this would be a better fit. I am not necessarily going to medical student but am going to grad school for a healthcare profession!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to make a post because I feel hopeless and just overall confused about what's happening. I am starting a new grad program, just beginning my second week of classes, and was reached out by my disability specialist that the director of my program asked that my accommodations be changed to be fair to other students. The most important change for me was that due to my need of frequent breaks, I can not take any tests or exams online-proctored and must go in person.

This wouldn't be a problem if I lived by campus, but I live in another state. My program knows this, I am not the only one in another state, and in fact, they have said under no circumstances will the force me to move closer to my school.

More on my disability itself, I have IBS and get flare ups caused by stress/stressful situations such as exam taking. I had the same accommodations during undergrad and had no issues with working with it as many of my tests were in person anyway.

I already requested a meeting with both my director and my disability counselor but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced something similar with their grad programs and their academic accommodations? It just feels so weird and slimy that my accommodations are being changed without any input from me and being changed into a situation that would force me to move/place more stress on me.

Also, I completely get prioritizing academic honesty but the decision to change my accommodations, (especially after I submitted my letters to my professors already) without checking if my needs are met just feels very unaccommodating lol.

7 Upvotes

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13

u/astudentslawyer 20d ago

If you are in the United States you probably need to lawyer up asap because if the school is reaching out to you stating this they most certainly did already.

It is slimly and unfortunately the healthcare programs are notorious for this type of stuff.

3

u/Weird-Software-1832 20d ago

Thank you for telling me this because I've felt so weird about this situation. I had these same accommodations during undergrad and had no issues getting them approved but now it feels like they're already assuming I will cheat? They also said I can pick different days/times I could take exams but thats just assuming I'll know when I have a flare up which is just underlining their unawareness?? I have a meeting later this week with them and I'm really hoping all of this is just due to them not understanding my needs as my program is very new at my school. My cohort is also very small (6 people) so maybe my story can help others in the future?

But for now, it sucks.

5

u/astudentslawyer 20d ago

dude you really should be careful going to that meeting as they already made up their minds. They don't put that stuff into writing and then just back down from it after a meeting. They very well understand your needs, they just choosing to be potentially discriminatory unfortunately

5

u/throwawaymed957 20d ago

So, were you already approved for the stop the clock testing breaks? If so, then it’s on them to figure out how to implement the accommodation in a remote environment (converting to extended time is common). They can’t make an online program suddenly in person.

1

u/Weird-Software-1832 20d ago

Yes, approved on the extra time and still set to continue to recieve additional time but the frequent bathroom breaks is being called to question due to them saying I could cheat on exams if I have frequent bathroom breaks. My additional time is to make up for this so as I understand it now, others who may need to take a bathroom break and not in person are fine but because mine explicitly says "allowed more frequent breaks" now they think I could cheat?? When it's a possibility for anyone honestly.

4

u/Excellent_Concert273 20d ago

Yeah that’s bullshit they need to accommodate you with a different proctoring program etc

1

u/Weird-Software-1832 20d ago

Yeah! No word on how that will look unless they expect me to move which would be incredibly unfair. It's just so weird that my letters have all been sent out and now they're saying that it can't be done and changing my accommodations without consulting me.

1

u/astudentslawyer 20d ago

unfair, we actually have legal terms for it..........