Legal Question in Disability Law in Kentucky
Student Rights Violated
I am a 23 year old Hearing Impaired College student at Western Kentucky University. I had signed up for a finance 200 class. The first day of class the proffessor had asigned seats and I was asigned a seat in the back of the class. I spoke with the professor at the end of class and told him I was hearing impaired and showed him my hearing aids. I ask for him to move me to the front of the class so that I could hear him to take notes. He said he would see what he could do for the next time the class met. I went to class the next class meeting, and nothing had changed. After class was over I spoke with him again, and told him I understood if he just forgot. I said that I would like to get the situation taken care of at that moment. He agreed and said it would be fixed when I came to class the next meeting. I came to class and nothing was changed again. I dropped the class in fear that I would not pass since I could not take accurate notes. I believe my rights were violated by this professor and was wondering what if anything I could do about it.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Student Rights Violated
Before considering hiring an attorney, I would suggest the following:
1) if there is any sort of civil rights or disability rights office
within WKU, check with that office;
2) contact the Human Rights Commission (TDD 502-595-4084; 800-292-5566 [I don't know if that is TDD]).
I work with a nonprofit organization of deaf and hearing impaired individuals, but it is primarily a social
rather than an advocacy group. I will contact an officer of that organization to see if he has any additional
ideas. I am sorry that you are having to deal with such a situation, and I wish you well.
Re: Student Rights Violated
I conveyed your problem & my response to an officer of the organization
& his replies are reproduced below: (I am sure that he would welcome
contact from you, but I am waiting for him to clear this before sending you his name & e-mail address).
The WKU campus has a disability office and a good one too.
They also have a Special
Education Program and a Psychology professor by the
name of Dr Joyce Wilder.
She is the daughter of deaf parents and a interpreter
herself. In addition
to that, the Ky Commission for the Deaf and Hearing
Impaired can also be of
paramount assistance. I strongly suggest that the
individual contact the
ones you mentioned first, including Dr Joyce Wilder,
then, Dana Parker or
the Executive Director herself, Dr. Bobbie Beth
Scoggins. If this entire
alleged case is a reality I find it hard to believe.
Western Ky U has had a
good reputation of graduates from the special
education department and have
their heart into it. This particular student should
have no problems
finding support services at WKU. However, if the
alleged incident is true,
how the professor handled it, he was way out of line
and did not follow
policy and procedure as I knew WKYU to employ at the
time I attended.
(Followup from my friend) I called Dr Joyce Wilder. She is appalled. She said
to give her name to the
student in question. She can be reached at 1 270 745
2315 or
[email protected] . She also gave the name of the
Director of Disabled
Student Affairs/Office a Mr Matt Davis, paraplegic,
uses wheelchair and can
be located in Potter Hall on the 4th floor. Hope I
have been of help.
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