[nabs-l] Is providing tutors or aids under the ADA for public colleges?

Brandon Keith Biggs brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
Sat Dec 7 16:00:21 UTC 2013


Hello,
I know I would be fantastic in the class if I could see the materials 
and a quick description in class doesn't cut it, after all, a picture is 
worth a thousand words.
I love languages and I'm really really good at them. I just don't mesh 
with the teacher's style of teaching. I need both in class and out of 
class comprehension work with someone in order for me to figure out what 
the teacher said that day. I am in the top 15% GPA at my school, and I 
never have needed tutors for any classes at this college before. I know 
how I learn and work, and what I get out of this class is maybe 10% of 
the information I should be getting.
The school doesn't offer language tutors in any way shape or form.
Also, I asked for a note taker and not only am I not able to read that 
paper they give the students, so they would have to put it onto a 
computer, but for a quarter the student gets payed $45. I wouldn't fix 
up my notes every class for $45. There is around 6 pages for each 
class... When I asked, no one wanted to be a note-taker.
The teacher's office hours are during another class that I have and the 
student study group meets during that other class as well, so I haven't 
been able to attend any of those. I have met with the teacher and I did 
meet with the head of the study group twice, but I still can't speak 
enough french to do well on the final. I'm taking this class for the 
next 2 quarters and I need to take the class that is during the 
teacher's office hours the next 2 quarters as well.
How much does a tutor charge? I personally have sworn never to work for 
the government because it is so painful to get a pittance. Because the 
tutor is also my in-class aid and spells words for me very slowly and 
tells me briefly what the pictures are, I'm not sure if that would count 
in the same rate?

Currently we have a really advanced student in the class who has been 
working as my aid and who I have met with twice outside of class. But I 
need more meeting time outside of class to ask her what she meant by a 
word and to see if I got all the words right and to see if I missed 
anything.
Considering the class meets 4 hours a week and minimum wage is over $8 
an hour, I would be paying her $320+ for the quarter just to be my 
in-class aid.
If I then payed for her out of class, that would be even more.
How do other people factor this?
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs

On 12/7/2013 2:44 AM, Bobbi Pompey wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Your college is required to provide you with accommodations, but they can choose how to do so. For example, providing you with a test online instead of having someone read it to you.
> If they feel that you can access the materials through some other means, then they may not provide an actual person to age.
>
> I had a similar experience at my college, that is also state-funded.
>
> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
> (336) 988-6375
> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
> http://pompey2050.wix.com/bobbi-pompey
>
>> On Dec 7, 2013, at 12:50 AM, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>> I am taking a class at my college and the Accessibility services department insists the ADA doesn't say they need to provide an aid or tutor for me in a language class. In my last college I had aids for all my math and science classes. At this new college, language is just as hard and both colleges are state colleges.
>> I am wondering what is the deal with one giving aid and tutoring and the other firmly saying they don't need to?
>> I believe section 504 of the ADA is where all this is talked about.
>> This is from:
>> http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/section504.ada.peer.htm
>>
>> "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance"
>>
>> Isn't not providing eyes for a class that is focused on pictures discrimination? Then isn't not providing eyes for notes with pictures discrimination?
>>
>> "providing an opportunity to participate or benefit that is unequal to that provided others,"
>>
>> Despite the improper English, That means that I need to be able to be equal with my class mates in and out of class. In order for me to be able to ask the teacher questions, I need to be able to understand the materiel enough to ask questions.
>>
>> "providing different or separate benefits or services, unless it is necessary to provide benefits or services that are as effective as those provided to others."
>>
>> In this case it is necessary to provide a tutor so that I am able to completely understand lectures and complete assignments in a timely manor that helps me understand, like the assignments are supposed to do.
>>
>> "For benefits or services provided to be "equally effective," they must afford students with disabilities an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, gain the same benefit, or reach the same level of achievement as other students."
>>
>> Without a tutor and an aid, the class that I am in is not providing me with enough materials for me to succeed. I must have a tutor and an aid to both grasp what is talked about in class partly and to go over materiel after class to bridge any gaps I miss-understood or recorded wrong because the teacher was spelling too fast on the board.
>>
>> "have the effect of defeating or impairing accomplishment of the objectives of the education program"
>>
>> I am not learning my language, so I need help!
>>
>> "Examples of accommodations and modifications include modifying rules, policies or practices; removing architectural or communication barriers; or providing aids, services, or assistive technology."
>>
>> HM, says I need an "Aid" right there... Not tutor though.
>>
>> http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/section504.ada.peer.htm
>>
>> If that is not the section state colleges fall under, please let me know. Or if there are any other laws that I should know about, please let me know. Otherwise I will send this email to my counselors and their boss so they can see the quotes from the ADA.
>> Thanks,
>>
>> -- 
>> Brandon Keith Biggs
>>
>>
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