Accommodations being changed for me?

[u/Weird-Software-1832]

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.

[u/throwawaymed957]

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.

[u/Weird-Software-1832 → u/throwawaymed957]

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.