Disability Accommodations: Something’s Gotta Change
Throughout years of education, anyone with a disability can tell you it is always a rocky relationship. However, university has given us the most hope, with more access to resources and financial support. With students paying tuition we may assume accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities would be better. Upsettingly, that isn’t the case.
The University of Guelph does have a statement declaring that “The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment, providing student services is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and administrators. This relationship is based on the respect of individual rights, the dignity of the individual and the University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning environment.”
However, this barrier-free environment is not always available to everyone. It is not the easiest to access as many University of Guelph students and staff regularly deal with difficulties on campus from academics to housing accommodations. Brittany Hannah, a Psychology and Sociology student at the University, had to take her story to Twitter back in September to receive accommodations for her classes. In an interview, Brittany explained that she had been in an accident which had left her with substantial injuries that hindered her ability to walk. Going to classes in person is very difficult, especially with her mental health issues. The school’s response was surprising, to say the least, saying that the only alternative available for her was to either take a semester off (which isn’t always possible for people). Brittany mentioned school is how she can maintain a routine, which is good for her mental health. The other option was to take all Distance Education (DE) courses, and for Brittany, many of her mandatory courses did not have this available.
One may question, why can’t professors just allow Brittany into their classroom online or record lectures? Due to COVID 19, the University is all the more prepared to accommodate situations like Brittany’s if they choose. However, this is where I learned of the collective agreement, which is a policy that states professors have the right to teach content in whichever way they wish, as long as it relates to the course description and does not violate the Human Rights Code. Therefore, if you're not signed up with SAS or if you require DE classes, professors have no immediate obligation to accommodate you. For those of you who are as frustrated at this as I am, the ways this can be improved are, just as all students complete course evaluations, students enrolled with SAS deserve to have a place to review their accommodations. Alternatively, students enrolled with SAS should have the option to sign a contract with the professor to both respect accommodations and academic conduct. Lastly, you can have a more open mind when it comes to people with disabilities in post-secondary institutions. We can do anything but sometimes we need a little bit of help.
What Brittany had to go through at the beginning of the semester should never have happened. Unfortunately, this isn’t just an issue with one person. Brittany mentioned to me she had tons of comments and personal messages online of people sharing similar situations. As a person who identifies as disabled, wondering who to go to (or if anything will change if you do tell someone) is a significant concern. However, I am glad to present that the UofG Disability Community is now an officially accredited organization that can be a voice and a resource for those with a disability.