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Jan. 7th, 2011 08:33 pmI got a call from the DLU today. I've had a number of fairly strained relations with them in the past. Depression/anxiety doesn't fit any of their tick-boxes.
There used to be another box - "ongoing" which I was able to select, however it meant I had to reapply again at the start of each semester. Unsurprisingly, the appointments were always full, so for semester two last year, I didn't get an appointment until October. I think we started the semester in July or August. My point being that it took a really long time, and therefore didn't apply to the mid-semester assignments. On that appointment we were able to make the supporting documentation say that I would be impacted until the 31st Dec, 2012 - when I would have graduated. (I'm not so sure that will be the case, as I expect I won't be able to take a 1.0 workload, and may 0.75 instead, which means doing all the forms again).
There have been issues with a couple of my reasonable adjustments. In first year, the psych department required me to submit Special Consideration forms for extensions, where my RAs stated explicitly I should not need to. They also didn't like my exam adjustments, making rather a fuss over having me separate to supervise my exam, nor my having food and drink with me. I dropped psych, so that's over.
We (Helen and I) have tried a number of times to organise for my readings to be in an electronic format. It oughtn't to be difficult, the lectures mostly put together reading packs, which they send off to the printers. These would be sent in an electronic format. I could get some readings from most lecturers, but never all of them from any. Having to explain my situation whilst not being on the DLU lists at the time also didn't make it easier. At the appointment in October, this was added to my list of RAs:
"Student to organise through Disability Liaison Unit for all required Course Materials to be
transformed into Electronic or other required Format."
I officially had the 'right' to electronic copies not of just the reading packs, but of the text books too. I was pretty excited. Someone, I believe called Mark, called me today. He wanted to let me know that the DLU had some difficulties with my requirements.
He wanted to know if my condition involved visual impairment, no, it's largely concentration
Had I used assistive technology before, not as such, I just need to enlarge it on the computer screen so I can read it.
Well, we're having some trouble with the requirement because we haven't done this for someone with your condition before ((Surely there's a precedent for everything?!)) Oh. Why?
You haven't used assistive technology before, have you... so there's no way we can know that it will even help
No, it does help. It means I can actually read it.
Oh.
Really?
Well.
What semester are you in?
Uh... five.
And how have you managed until now?
I've had to ask the lectures individually for electronic copies of the readings... and mostly struggled.
Let me confirm the subjects you're taking... the library will be in touch with a link for you to download the course materials from.
ALL THAT FOR A LINK?
AS IF I'D TRY THIS HARD FOR SOMETHING I WASN'T SURE WOULD HELP.
Also, who are you to decide if it might help me or not.
And why are you disputing my RAs now, rather than three months ago when they were written?
Indicate which description applies:
The disability condition is Permanent OR Temporary. NB: Please specify date that the condition will impact until: ….…/…...…/……….
There used to be another box - "ongoing" which I was able to select, however it meant I had to reapply again at the start of each semester. Unsurprisingly, the appointments were always full, so for semester two last year, I didn't get an appointment until October. I think we started the semester in July or August. My point being that it took a really long time, and therefore didn't apply to the mid-semester assignments. On that appointment we were able to make the supporting documentation say that I would be impacted until the 31st Dec, 2012 - when I would have graduated. (I'm not so sure that will be the case, as I expect I won't be able to take a 1.0 workload, and may 0.75 instead, which means doing all the forms again).
There have been issues with a couple of my reasonable adjustments. In first year, the psych department required me to submit Special Consideration forms for extensions, where my RAs stated explicitly I should not need to. They also didn't like my exam adjustments, making rather a fuss over having me separate to supervise my exam, nor my having food and drink with me. I dropped psych, so that's over.
We (Helen and I) have tried a number of times to organise for my readings to be in an electronic format. It oughtn't to be difficult, the lectures mostly put together reading packs, which they send off to the printers. These would be sent in an electronic format. I could get some readings from most lecturers, but never all of them from any. Having to explain my situation whilst not being on the DLU lists at the time also didn't make it easier. At the appointment in October, this was added to my list of RAs:
"Student to organise through Disability Liaison Unit for all required Course Materials to be
transformed into Electronic or other required Format."
I officially had the 'right' to electronic copies not of just the reading packs, but of the text books too. I was pretty excited. Someone, I believe called Mark, called me today. He wanted to let me know that the DLU had some difficulties with my requirements.
He wanted to know if my condition involved visual impairment, no, it's largely concentration
Had I used assistive technology before, not as such, I just need to enlarge it on the computer screen so I can read it.
Well, we're having some trouble with the requirement because we haven't done this for someone with your condition before ((Surely there's a precedent for everything?!)) Oh. Why?
You haven't used assistive technology before, have you... so there's no way we can know that it will even help
No, it does help. It means I can actually read it.
Oh.
Really?
Well.
What semester are you in?
Uh... five.
And how have you managed until now?
I've had to ask the lectures individually for electronic copies of the readings... and mostly struggled.
Let me confirm the subjects you're taking... the library will be in touch with a link for you to download the course materials from.
ALL THAT FOR A LINK?
AS IF I'D TRY THIS HARD FOR SOMETHING I WASN'T SURE WOULD HELP.
Also, who are you to decide if it might help me or not.
And why are you disputing my RAs now, rather than three months ago when they were written?
