ADA in the classroom.?

Question

I am a teacher at a community college in California. One of my students is disabled and requires a special chair. We are almost done with the second week of class and the office responsible for getting her set up has yet to supply my classroom with her chair. She was told that it sometimes takes "a couple of weeks."

So I have been schlepping a chair from my own office to accommodate her. I expressed my concern to my dean and he didn't seem concerned. I suggested that we are out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and he basically blew me off.

At every other campus I've worked at, it has been drilled into me (seminars, special meetings, pamphlets) that ADA is like the word of god... not to be taken lightly. Yet here, at this present school, it seems like it's pretty much ignored.

Can someone provide me with some guidance or at least some validation? My student says that this happens "every semester" and that she has waited up to a month in the past.

Answer 1

This has happened to my daughter when she was in the Port Chester, NY school district.  My daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and needed a weighted vest in order for her to stay focused and sit still in her chair.  The teacher kept telling me they ordered it for about three months until finally they got a used one by January when half the year went by without it.  I had written letters and complained to the Director of Special Education.  My daughter could have been more focused with this vest and not have lost all this time to learn more easily.  I was constantly frustrated by this district's inabililty to supply my child with what she needed including an aide.

Answer 2

i am guessing...but a community college means that they are state and federally funded. therefore, i would begin by questioning my state dept of education for direction on accomodation issues regarding higer education. if they can help you cool, if not usually someone is willing to point you in the right direction. and of course, you can ALWAYS help her and her family contact her local senator to complain about the lack of accomodations...if nothing else works you can best believe that type of phone call makes feet and butts move faster than greased lightening! tax dollars and constituents have a lot of power!

wish you all the best...

Answer 3

Your school should accommodate the special requirement to prevent a lawsuit.

You'll find everything you need to justify satisfying this requirement at the following website

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm