Dealing with Teachers.

[Daydreamer88]

So being in school while dealing with this disease is really hard Right?

I was taking a weight training class this last quarter and i knew right away that i would be missing some days of school due to flare ups and treatments and that my immune system is compromised that i may get sick. I talked to the teacher one the first day of class and let her know about my illness. She has a very strict attendance policy that we can only miss 2 days without our grade being effected. I figured since this illness is a disability and that I went to the disability services and got a letter of accommodation which confirmed my illness. She said that we'd work together on it and figure something out.

2 weeks later I got swine flu. I miss 4 days because i wasn't released back to school until then through my doctor. Then i missed one day because of a Remicade infusion and 1 day because I had a really bad flare up.

I asked if i could make it up and she said no that because i missed days and waited 2 days after i got back that it was too late.

And I had an average of 80% on her test which were really hard

So because i missed 6 days she failed me. So i had to take a pass/no credit which didn't give me credit for taking the class.

Is it just me or does this seem unfair?

Does anyone know if i can do anything more about this situation?

 

[imisspopcorn]

Because you have a crohnic illness you qualify under the Americans with Disabilties Act....You should qualify for a 504 plan under this act. You are entitled to reasonable accomodations. Here in, Las Vegas every school campus has someone who is assigned to coordinate these plans...Are you at a college or high school?

 

[Daydreamer88]

I'm in college

 

[imisspopcorn]

http://wrightslaw.com/flyers/college.504.pdf

I would call the university and see what their policy is for this type of disability. Do you have an academic advisor that could help you? This link says colleges are exempt from accomodations, but that doesn't ssem right.

 

[crazycanuck]

Talk to the dean. Also if it gets really bad you could talk to a government agency about it because it can be considered discrimination. I live in Canada so I don't know what the equvilents would be there but I know I am allowed to miss finals at my university without a grade cut. I also remember in high school I was allowed to leave or miss provincials due to Crohn's because it is recognized by our government as a medical emergency. Good luck.

 

[katiesue1506]

for the record, maggots would only climb up there and then climb back down (assuming she didn't have any dead tissue up there for them to eat) Maggots only feast on dead tissue which is why we can take the maggot life cycle point and pin point when a murder occurred (roughly)

just for the record

Love,
Your Resident Entomologist XOXO

 

[uab grad student]

Haha, I'm glad someone loves bugs as much as me, Katie.

I agree with everyone else that this is discrimination, but to help your case I think it is so important to save notes from every single doctor's appt, etc. If you have saved them, great, they will help you a lot. If not, I would recommend bringing any you can when you go talk to the Dean and in the future, save copies. Good luck! One thing you can always "threaten" being in college is to withdraw--undergraduate schools really look at the money... they won't want you to drop out since that is less income for them, so if they are smart, they will accomodate you. Good luck!

 

[smurphy0925]

Sounds very unfair. Teacher said she would work with you to figure something out and then turned on you. Would definately go to the Dean and plead discrimination.

 

[saidinstouch]

She is legally obligated to work with you due to your disability. I had to miss two finals one quarter and the subsequent quarter due to health issues from a surgery to drain a nasty abscess. The school was required to give me exactly the amount of time I missed to makeup my assignments or let me withdraw from the classes to retake them without it reflecting on my grade. Just talk to your academic adviser and research the programs they provide for people with disabilities at your school. You have rights to miss time due to health and the professors have to be accommodating. If nobody will help tell them you'll be forced to goto your local press both newspaper and tv. This is the kind of stuff news media loves and you can find someone to shine a negative light on the school. Nothing works better than negative publicity to get things done when being nice and trying to secure your rights doesn't work.

 

[Daydreamer88]

I think i'm going to have to go to the media. The dean doesn't want to work with me on the matter and said and I quote "It's an Academic Issue" My dad even called to see if he could resolve the issue and she said that same thing. In washington on a local new station we have a guy named Jesse Jones. He's a problem solver. I believe i will be calling him tomorrow..

 

[shazamataz]

Ooooh, good luck!

 

[Guestly]

Can't wait to hear what happens with the media! Go get em!

 

[tamesis]

Good for you! I look forward to hearing how things go, that is ridiculous that she refused to accomidate yoU!

 

[Crohn's 35]

I am finding this way over the top of an issue, I cannot believe the Dean won't help you out. YOU are paying good money for an education and you have a disability therefore you have the right to be heard. Let us know how you make out!

 

[crazycanuck]

Oh hey! I just looked up your in Washington state not DC right? sorry not familiar with black diamond....Anyways a guy from I believe its Kiro News that has a co-host or reporter with Crohn's. We pick up Kiro's newscast where I live and I remember watching the report and him talking about Crohn's. Maybe try and figure out who he is unless thats who you mentioned. Thats a mighty big audience you'd be getting your message too. Also if worst comes to worst you are LEGALLY allowed to drop out without affect to your grades due to medical emergency, I had one of my profs discuss this option with me because I missed two weeks and she said I had that option or could stay in the class and accept the fact I'll be getting a lower mark than I normally would.

 

[kristyn]

I dealt with this as I was diagnosed in colloege and all my professor were great except for one that said just because I was in the hospital for two weeks didn't mean anything- for all she knew it could have been an elective procedure. By the end of the day I was speaking to the director of the Disabilities office on campus. All it required was a letter from my doc 1 time per year stating that I had a chronic illness that required me to miss classes intermintently. The disabilty office then wortoe up a letter that you give to each of your teachers at the begining of semester (note- professors have no right to ask what your illness is or anyhting about it). You are completly covered for any disability related problems- extensions, modifications, classes from home.