[nabs-l] Grade Expunging

Sat Sep 21 21:58:01 UTC 2013

Yes, people have had grades removed from transcripts for lack of accessibility.  In most cases probably it has required a complaint - either using your college's internal due process or complaints with state or federal agencies, such as the U.S. Dept. of Education's Office of Civil Rights.  Of course, the NFB has handled many cases similar in nature, but always shooting for a bigger target - namely that the college get itself accessible.

In other words, you have to prove that discrimination occurred because they did not respond to your requests.

Various rules and practices are different at every school, it's true.  At the institution where I worked they would allow a grade to be removed  after the course was re-taken and a better grade was earned.  It was meant for someone who got a grade like an F and wanted to do better.  Eventually, it cost the student $100 to remove that old grade, but again only after getting a better one on re-take.  You might be able to find such a path, but it won't' do anything to fix the bigger problem - lack of accessibility.

Dropping or withdrawing prior to the train wreck is pretty sound advice.  But it is not always entirely without consequences.  In some cases, if you wait too long, the W shows as either W-F or W-P, so if you are already failing it can affect your GPA.

The other consequence is that VR will often not pay for a retake, and they certainly don't like F's.

You start with the Registrar's web site and start finding out what the expunge options might be, and what cost.  You look for the college's accessibility statements - DS offices, but also Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action officers.  Also look for the ADA/504 Coordinator's information.  These are  the places you can see what steps are open to you for complaints or grievances.  

The other thing to keep in mind is going to vR when accommodations don't happen, and getting a reader.  If you can't get accessible educational materials, then get a reader and do it yourself.  VR can pay for this.  They won't like to do it.  The regs in VR say that they can count the accommodations under the ADA as "comparable benefits."  That means something you need that they don't have to pay for.  What they always forget in VR is that the regs also say that if the accommodations fail, they are still responsible.  

One more way to avoid the train wreck.

HTH
Dan

Dan Burke
Academic and Youth Services
Colorado Center for the Blind
Take charge with confidence and self-reliance

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-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Misty Dawn Bradley
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 6:43 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grade Expunging

I have never had a grade expunged, but I almost got an F because an 
Economics class Pearson lab was not accessible, but I went on my college's 
website and read the procedures for appealing a grade and getting it turned 
into a withdrawal, or a W, rather than an F. I had to write a letter to the 
dean explaining why I was appealing for a grade of W instead of an F and 
explaining that the course was not accessible and I was not given any 
accomodation. Perhaps you could set up a meeting with the dean of the 
college or the dean of the department over the class you are taking?
Misty

-----Original Message----- 
From: Anna Givens
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:17 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grade Expunging

I have not been in this this exact situation, but have had similar issues. 
I don't know that dss can or will be of much help.  I would definitely talk 
to your advisor.  They should be the one to handle this.

Anna E Givens

On Sep 19, 2013, at 11:36 PM, Bobbi Pompey <pompey2010 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I will. Thank you!
>
> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
> (336) 988-6375
> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
> http://pompey2050.wix.com/bobbi-pompey
>
>> On Sep 19, 2013, at 11:53 PM, "justin williams" 
>> <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Good.  If that does not happen, you may  have an ADA case; though I would
>> really try to prevail upon the new director.  Maybe write out your case 
>> on
>> paper so he can see what happened.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bobbi Pompey
>> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 11:51 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grade Expunging
>>
>> I've done that. Originally I was told no. But there is a new director 
>> now. I
>> asked him, and was told he would look into it.
>>
>> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
>> (336) 988-6375
>> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
>> http://pompey2050.wix.com/bobbi-pompey
>>
>>>> On Sep 19, 2013, at 11:10 PM, "justin williams"
>>> <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Okay; Go through your dss office and see what they can possibly do.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bobbi
>>> Pompey
>>> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 11:08 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grade Expunging
>>>
>>> I was registered and requested accommodations.
>>>
>>> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
>>> (336) 988-6375
>>> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
>>> http://pompey2050.wix.com/bobbi-pompey
>>>
>>>>> On Sep 19, 2013, at 10:56 PM, "justin williams"
>>>> <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Did you go through your dss office for acomodations?  I do know that
>>>> if you did not admit to a disability, and were not a student under
>>>> the dss office, then you can't.  However, if you were a student under
>>>> your dss office, then you may have a case.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bobbi
>>>> Pompey
>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 10:43 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Grade Expunging
>>>>
>>>> Hello, I wanted to know if anyone has ever had a grade removed from
>>>> their college transcript because they were not properly accommodated
>>>> in the course?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you!
>>>>
>>>> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
>>>> (336) 988-6375
>>>> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
>>>> http://pompey2050
>>>>
>>>> Bobbi A. L. Pompey
>>>> (336) 988-6375
>>>> pompey2010 at yahoo.com
>>>> http://pompey2050.wix.com/bobbi-pompey
>>>> _______________________________________________
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