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Epilepsy and School
Wed, 05/01/2013 - 18:20Hey everyone,
I am very new to epilepsy, and I am trying my best to be my own advocate when it comes to medical treatment, and in regards to my academic career as well as my job.
Long story short (you can see my first post, if you want some background information), I started having debilitating seizures and post-seizure recovery periods in the beginning of March. My Spring semester at my university began at the end of January. I tried my best to cope and make it to the end of the semester, but I just can't; I can't even leave the house some days because the seizures are so constant (despite taking medication).
This semester, it was very difficult to get in touch with my academic adviser because he is so overworked. Furthermore, I have been in the hospital three times since the seizures began. Despite this, I tried my very best to make it to the end of the semester. But, most days, my brain feels like "cooked spaghetti"; I just can't follow one line of thought through to the end. In the last 3 weeks, I haven't even been able to make it in to class; the seizures have gotten worse and worse.
I asked my adviser to petition for a "Withdrawal Excused", which means I would be able to be withdrawn from my classes, and allowed to re-enroll at a later date, without them affecting my GPA. He said that it was too late in the semester to petition the Dean of my college for a Withdrawal Excused. He added that another student had tried this, and that the Dean had denied her, too. Now, I am left to receive whatever grades are given to me, and re-take the classes next semester. Luckily, this won't impact my financial aid award next semester. But, I don't think this is at all fair.
I had no idea I had epilepsy until the middle of March, and I had no idea how bad it would be - or, that it would cause for me so many learning disabilities. Is there anything that can be done? I know that because I will have to re-take all of these classes, my financial aid award will probably run out before I even graduate. I am annoyed, and I feel like I am just being thrown aside for now - but, this is going to be a BIG problem for me in the future. What should I do? Who do I ask for help?
Comments
Re: Epilepsy and School
Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Fri, 2013-05-03 - 04:50
Hi CarlySoup,
Your academic adviser being so overworked is no excuse for the adviser nor the dean.
The university should have similar listings of policies for such matters (the policies must satisfy the ADA guidelines also, so, any "everybody is treated that way" Catch-22 should fail in practicing the university's probably illegal stance), for more legal compliance, as does (for example):
http://www.ccis.edu/nationwide/academics/AHE_catalog/archives/2004-05/AdminPolicies.pdf
page 2:
"Withdrawal Excused: A student may request a
withdrawal excused (WE) at any time during a
session. The student must submit an
Add/Drop/Withdrawal form with a letter addressing
the extraordinary circumstances...."
"Generally, extraordinary circumstances are
narrowly interpreted to mean the development of
unforeseen, unexpected circumstances beyond a
student’s control that prevents continued attendance
in all classes, e.g., serious illness; death in the
immediate family; significant change in the terms,
location, and conditions of employment; call to active
military duty or TDY, etc. Mere inconvenience,
discomfort with the academic workload, or minor
schedule changes in employment are not deemed to
meet the definition of extraordinary, mitigating, or
extenuating circumstances...."
Even before the laws were made stronger, many older cases illustrated the legal obligations of an institution in being a "university" or "school":
"The View From/Hartford; Epileptic Student Files Discrimination Suit Against University"
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/03/nyregion/view-hartford-epileptic-student-files-discrimination-suit-against-university.html?src=pm
http://articles.courant.com/2001-12-21/news/0112210386_1_seizures-epilepsy-lawsuit
The case settled: http://www.plainsite.org/flashlight/case.html?id=113227
Many bizzare technicalities are often encountered:
http://fl.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20070809_0000474.SFL.htm/qx
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1297279.html
http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/11d0859p.pdf
http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/12d1114p.pdf
http://www.etownian.com/news/former-student-sues-college-over-alleged-discrimination/
http://chronicle.com/article/Federal-Case-Over-Banning-a/129349/
There are so many Catch-22 roadblocks that the few successful cases are about frequent enough to meet criteria indicating possible exceptional indicators for the convenience of justifying the possibility of law:
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/rite-aid-to-pay-250000-to-settle-eeoc-disability-and-retaliation-discrimination-laws
Sometimes institutions will tend to follow parts of the law simply to avoid the quagmire of each technicality in contrast to the laws being fully addressed before the right, and/or need, to sue in court is reached. Even if that works, future retaliation remains nearly certain.
Tadzio
Re: Epilepsy and School
Submitted by CarlySoup on Fri, 2013-05-03 - 20:26
Thank you for your response, the information you provided was very helpful. Do you work for a college or university, are are you a student, too?
Re: Epilepsy and School
Submitted by mereloaded on Thu, 2013-05-02 - 09:20
I am sorry that this is happening to you. Unfortunately, it seems as if you missed the deadline to withdraw your classes. All schools have a deadline for this, ask your counselor if there is an extension for circumstances like yours, but it all boils down to school policy. Timing was really bad in your case. I am very very sorry. You can, however, ask for an extension on turning your papers, that they can do. Talk to the special needs counselor, that is his/her job to do. I hope you get better and continue with your studies, Best wishes!