[nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against, where to turn for help?

Fri Feb 15 22:46:50 UTC 2013

Hi Laurel,
     Sorry to jump in a bit late on this thread, but I would also be
willing to talk to you about this. I am the President of the Ohio
student division and, although you are not from Ohio, I can offer you
advice and a good set of ears if you need them.
     I am also in the camp that says that it's not quite time to sue
yet. I know you are graduating soon, but if you do not go as far as
you can with this complaint, what's to stop this professor from doing
the same thing to someone else? She should know that this is
absolutely not OK and that actions will be taken against her if she
does not start treating all her students, no matter what the
disability, or other difference, fairly.
     Joshua, I would just like to say that, like others, I believe my
college education and accommodations are going very well. I attend an
"American" university and, other than a slight bump in the road I am
dealing with now, everything is going well. The NFB has a false
reputation for immediately suing someone if they refuse to be
accommodating: let's not spread that notion any further to others by
jumping to conclusions about every school and how to handle every
difficult situation. You may be a busy student, but the fact is that
every situation is different and there are different steps to follow
for each situation that arises. You will become more skilled as a
blind person if you, and I don't just mean you, but every other blind
person, myself included, assess the unique circumstances surrounding
each situation and act according to them rather than applying a "one
size fits all" approach.
     I hope I have made myself clear and please don't hesitate to
contact me with any questions.
Thanks,
Aleeha


On 2/14/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Laurel,
>
> Chris is right on.  In terms of the NFB, I'd definitely let them know
> so they can keep your school on their radar for the future.  Maybe not
> now while you're dealing with the issue, unless of course you choose
> to seek the help of the NFB for advice on the issue or about getting
> Labarre or Goldstein's advice, but they should definitely know.
>
> However, obviously getting your academic stuff taken care of comes
> first.  I know it can be frustrating, (a friend and I went through
> some early stages of the complaint process about a professor last
> semester), but stick with it.  What your prof did wasn't right,
> especially since she has effected your GPA in a class you need for
> your major.  Best of luck, and let us know if you reach any success.
>
>
>
> On 2/14/13, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Laurel and all,
>>
>> Laurel, let me first say that I am very sorry to hear of this
>> discrimination
>> and find it sad that this kind of blatant discrimination still exists in
>> our
>> colleges and universities. I agree with all that has been said here, and
>> I
>> would definitely try taking the courses of action Kaiti, Arielle and
>> others
>> have suggested in this thread.
>>
>> You may also want to contact our national office and talk with a member
>> of
>> the Advocacy and Policy (also called Governmental Affairs) team if not
>> Dr.
>> Maurer himself. Although your state affiliate could probably do more, it
>> may
>> be good for the national office to at least know that this (to put it
>> bluntly) crap is going on so they could step in if need be. If it comes
>> down
>> to this, Scott LaBarre, Dan Goldstein or any of the other lawyers who
>> work
>> with the Federation could represent you in court. However, I agree with
>> Ashley that you might not want to sue quite yet, but that is an option. I
>> emphasize that suing is an option because this may be your last resort if
>> the people at your college still won't listen to you. This question has
>> sort
>> of been asked before in this thread, but how far up the chain of command
>> at
>> your school did you go in making your complaints? If you can go higher up
>> the preverbial ladder before getting lawyers involved, I would definitely
>> try that first.
>>
>> Also, I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Maryland
>> Association of Blind Students (MDABS.) I am also the co-Chair of our
>> Public
>> Relations Committee. I know you don't live in Maryland, but if there is
>> anything our student division can do to help you in fighting this
>> discrimination, please don't hesitate to let us know. Just write to me
>> off-list or call me and I'll see what I can do. I have provided my phone
>> number in my signature below. This is definitely discrimination, and I
>> believe it should be fought. I hope your issues can be resolved quickly
>> and
>> without too much trouble for you.
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> Chris Nusbaum, Co-Chair
>> Public Relations Committee
>> Maryland Association of Blind Students: a Division of thE National
>> Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>> Phone: (443) 547-2409
>> Email: dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
>> Shelton
>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 3:32 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against, where
>> to
>> turn for help?
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I get that you're trying to make a point, and that she should hear that
>> she
>> wasn't pulling one over on you, but I don't think a letter will do much
>> for
>> the situation.  She is doing this blatantly and knows what she's doing,
>> and
>> if you've beaten at your own game then she's got to know that this hasn't
>> gone unnoticed.  Congrats to you for that though!
>>
>> Chairs of departments fall under the supervision of the dean of whatever
>> college they belong to.  Try that if you haven't already.
>> Even professors with years of pull behind them can have consequences if
>> the
>> reason for doing so is severe enough, and I'd definitely say that this is
>> such a case.  If not then definitely go through with the ADA stuff.  It
>> sounds like you've filed some unsuccessful ADA complaints before, so you
>> may
>> need some lawyer's input if it comes down to it.  The main point is that
>> ADA
>> or no, it's not right to mess with someone's GPA like this, and not
>> wanting
>> someone in a class just because they require some accomodations is an
>> excuse
>> a prof with no professionalism would make.
>>
>> How much longer do you have till you could get your degree?
>> Thankfully you can go somewhere else for grad school, and hopefully pick
>> a
>> university with much better attitudes and resources geared towards
>> accomodating fairly.
>>
>> On 2/14/13, Laurel <laurel.stockard at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Exactly. She is long track, and has tuns of power overthere.
>>> Basically, her word is law. I'm thinking that at least, if I can't do
>>> anything else, I am going to wait until I have my degree in hand in
>>> August, and then write her a letter and just tell her, look I know
>>> what you did and I want you to know that it's not ok. HOnestly, she
>>> didn't want me in her class because I'm blind. She tried to fail me,
>>> but I didn't even know I was being discriminated against at the time.
>>> I beat her at her own game and passed. I literally just thought it was
>>> that hard and at the time I didn't know anybody in the class.
>>> Laurel
>>>
>>> On 2/14/13, Loren Wakefield <theweird1 at centurylink.net> wrote:
>>>> The problem here also is that if the prof is chair of the department,
>>>> then she is probably tenured.  This makes it harder to bring
>>>> complaints against and have any sort of meaningful action taken.  But
>>>> you should follow the chain of command first.
>>>>
>>>> Loren
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
>>>> Shelton
>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:03 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
>>>> where to turn for help?
>>>>
>>>> Josh,
>>>>
>>>> The ADA is great, but you can't just automatically slap everyone who
>>>> descriminates against someone with a disability with a lawsuit.  If
>>>> it comes down to it and that's what must be done then that's one
>>>> thing, but there are certain steps which should be taken before
>>>> putting the time, effort, and money into suing a person.  Plus, I'm
>>>> assuming that this is not Laurel's last semester in school, so it
>>>> wouldn't be wise to just hire a lawyer and make a bunch of legal fuss
>>>> without going through the chain of command first.
>>>> I feel that would just create more enemies than this one professor,
>>>> not to mention make Laurel look bad for not trying to resolve the
>>>> issue in a more dignified and civilized way before going to court.  A
>>>> sensible dean will not stand for descrimination from a faculty
>>>> member, especially if they see Laurel in an appointment.  College
>>>> administrators are mindful of things which could causse lawsuits and
>>>> will do what they can to avoid them, and if this French professor
>>>> really did descriminate and Laurel can prove it in a calm, civilized
>>>> way by presenting the facts I bet her prof will have some form of
>>>> consequences from the university.
>>>>
>>>> On 2/14/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Laurel,
>>>>>
>>>>> If Scott Labarre were to even represent you, you wouldn't get the
>>>>> case up and running till after this semester was over and your grade
>>>>> would surely be final.  Talk to your disabilities councelor and see
>>>>> if they can help; part of their job is to advocate for you in
>>>>> situations like these.  Make an appointment with the dean of the
>>>>> language department first.  Make sure it's face-to-face.  If you
>>>>> have a copy of your exam instructions or the disabilities office has
>>>>> them on file bring them so that you can show the dean.  It would
>>>>> also be helpful if you could get a sighted student to describe
>>>>> either verbally in the meeting or in writing which they can give to
>>>>> you what their exam procedures were so the dean could compare.  If
>>>>> the dean refuses to do nothing go to his boss, and if that doesn't
>>>>> work then I'd look into legal action against the university, but
>>>>> follow the chain of command first.  You don't want to overstep
>>>>> people who could help you without making a bigger deal out of the
>> situation.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/14/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>>>> I'll write you offlist, because I need to ask you something anyway.
>>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Laurel
>>>>>> [laurel.stockard at gmail.com]
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:43 PM
>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
>>>>>> where to turn for help?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What's his email? Sorry, I'm in school and can't answer the phone,
>>>>>> but I can get away with email. :-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2/14/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>> Good grief!
>>>>>>> You better sue them!
>>>>>>> Contact Scott LaBarre, and he'll help you!
>>>>>>> That's terrible!
>>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Laurel
>>>>>>> [laurel.stockard at gmail.com]
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:32 PM
>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
>>>>>>> where to turn for help?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As my subject says, I believe that I have been discriminated
>>>>>>> against by a professor at my university. I am wondering if one of
>>>>>>> you fellow listers can tell me where to get help. I had a French
>>>>>>> professor last semester. With out making this too long of a story,
>>>>>>> basically, I have just found out that she gave me different exams
>>>>>>> and quizzes than she gave everybody in the class. She made me do a
>>>>>>> different and much harder final exam for example. On the final, I
>>>>>>> had to go to my Disability Servic Testing office and answer 4 or 5
>>>>>>> questions, in French of course, one page responses single spaced
>>>>>>> without use of a dictionary. I did not know then what everybody
>>>>>>> else did, I assumed they did the same as me. I found out
>>>>>>> yesterday, accidentally, that what she did was have everybody else
>> come to class and get in groups.
>>>>>>> She then gave each group a dictionary, and assigned the groups 1
>>>>>>> question each. They then had to answer it and write their answers
>>>>>>> on the board. The whole class then discussed each question. All 20
>>>>>>> students made 100s on the exam. I made a 74. Had I made an "A" I
>>>>>>> would have made an "a" in the class. This is the most major thing
>>>>>>> she did, there's a lot of smaller things, but I think I can pin
>>>>>>> her down on this one. Where/what NFB resource/resources should I
>>>>>>> turn to for
>>>> help?
>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>> Laurel
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40
>>>>>>> pc
>>>>>>> cua.edu
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/laurel.stockar
>>>>>>> d%
>>>>>>> 40gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40p
>>>>>> cc
>>>>>> ua.edu
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet1
>>>>>> 04
>>>>>> %40gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Kaiti
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kaiti
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/theweird1%40centurylink.
>>>> net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/laurel.stockard%4
>>>> 0gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%
>>> 40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nusbaum%40gmail.c
>> om
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/blindcowgirl1993%40gmail.com
>