Migraine

Hi All,
The migraines have just been pretty bad this semester.

I was going through files for my classes to make sure I had everything done- and found that I did not have the observation information for one of my education courses. (I confused it with the other observation form.)

The form missing is for an online course so I went to see the professoir and get the information. When I first asked about it, she told me she wouldn't give it to me because I had not picked it up earlier. I explained what has been going on - migraines, a bout of flu lasting 4 weeks, and more migraines. I asked if I could do it for even partial credit (Only ten hour and it could be done before the term ends, and reports aren't due til end of semester.) After I explained she said that "spring was a busy time for teachers and that I was just in a sad situation."

This is an educational psychology course.

She finally agreed to think about letting me complete the observation. I will meet with her tomorrow. I do have a disability qualification, and am willing to do the work. I have never had problems in a class before and have never ever had problems completing observation by the date it is due. If she will not let me complete it, I will probably see if I can negotiate a withdrawel or retake the course later rather than risk failing. I hate being in this position.


I just hate having to explain and fight this battle over and over again on so many levels. It just feels like I can't win right now. I am battling a pretty bad one and am one a prednisone dose pack to try and break it.

I just don't know what to do. I am really tired of having to fight this battle.

pain free days,
sconesail

Sconesail - by now I guess you've had the meeting with the professor. I really hope it went your way. I'm not sure what a disability qualification is, but if you have something on file at the school indicating that you are sometimes disabled by your migraines, I sure hope that helps! Let us know how it went. It sure is hard to have to fight for yourself when you're fighting pain too! to you.

- Megs

I hope your meeting with your professor went well and that she came to her senses. I've not had any experience with disability certification, but it seems to me that it could be something you could (politely) shove in her face and (sweetly) demand that she follow it.

You're facing so much. My head was OK in college, and was treated OK with a few Percocet here and there in law school, so I don't have any experience with what you're going through. But I know what it's like to be non-functional from pain and try to function anyway.

Let us know how it went.

Gretchen in Mississippi

Hi All,

I met with the professor. She still would not let me complete the observation- for any type of credit. So, I asked for a withdrawel, which she agreed to. Both deans of education signed off on it, once I explained the situation. As one is my advisor, he knew what has been going on and had no problem with it. Once it was signed, I was told to drop it iff at the registrars office.

I thought that would be the end of it. Instead, the person working at the registrar's office was not understanding. She said, "I am going to have to check on this. You can't withdraw this late because you aren't doing well, you don't have the right." I referred her back to the professor and the dean, as well as the center for disabilities. I should be ok, I just have to get a letter stating that I have had some medical problems that prevented me from completing the course. It should be easy to get.

As to the disability qualification- it is done through the school. It means that I cannot be penalized for missing class or late work due to migraine. Mine allows for leniancy in attendance, work missed can be made up in a timely fashion, etc.

I am just really upset because she basically said it in front of a room full of people. I thought I was done, but apparently now. I hate being singled out. I also know that these professors would not allow a student to withdraw if they honestly felt that it was the wrong thing to do. In my entire academic career, this is the first time I have withdrawn from a course this late. (I have taken and completed 2 incompletes due to medical reasons)

I am really frustrated, even though I have plenty of medical documentation, I am so tired of having to justify the migraines.

I am also upset because I feel like I am doing absolutely everything to deal with the headaches in addition to school and life in general. How many times do I need to justify it in order for anyone to understand it? How many times do I have to justify it?

I just hate this entire thing.

Thanks for your thoughts. I would also love any you have regarding the latest developments.

Pain free days,
sconesail

I can definately feel your pain on this.

I was lucky that I wasn't getting migraines regularly while I was doing my bachelors degree. But now I am in cosmetology school, and they have a 75% attendance requirement. Which wouldn't be so hard if I wasn't working full time on top of it. I was told flat out the school's policy is non negotiable is they will not take my medical condition into account at all.

I am sorry you have had such a rough time. Maybe having that one less class for a while will help your migraines calm down a bit.

I get what you are saying too about having to justify it over and over and over again. I have FMLA from my job and I STILL get an attitude if I need to take a half day. They legally have to let me, but I can tell my boss is always annoyed about it.

Its just one more thing you end up having to stress over that you shouldn't HAVE TO stress over.



ps. I am convinced after 4 years undergraduate there is a special place in hell for almost everyone who works in a registrars or financial aid office!! hahah!

Hi

I'm so sorry to hear about all of this. I can imagine how frustrating it is for you. It's frustrating me to just hear about it. My son is only in junior high school, but I worry about the type of problems you are having happening to him when he gets to college.

I just don't understand why your professor wouldn't allow you to make the work up for full credit particularly because you have a disability plan. Is it a 504 plan or is it called something else? We went through some similar problems with my son's school this year.

You shouldn't have to go through all of this. You shouldn't have to justify it over and over again. What is wrong with these people?

I hope the rest of the semester goes well for you. I hope you will be feeling much better too.

Take Care.
Jean Ann

Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear you've been treated so badly by this professor. As though you don't have enough on your plate without being picked on.

I would encourage you do get the office that handles accommodation issues involved between you and this professor to smooth things over. It seems to me that the treatment you're receiving is bordering on harassment, which is the last thing you need on top of everything else.

Take care and try to keep your head up. You're doing the best you can, which is all anyone can ask for.

Diana

I'm sorry you're going through this but I think I know where your teacher is coming from as I am going through the exact same thing.

I have had a bad spell of migraines lately and I attend a private University which goes by 8 week sessions. This month I have been hospitalized 3 times alone, and have been put through numerous Dr visits, a mandatory military TDY to meet with the Drs there and have suffered the side effects of new meds. I have also been given several narcotics which have left me out of it for days.

I have a Disability Advisor that I have turned to in times of need and she had me talk to my teachers. My professors know my situation and they have both agreed to let me make up my missed assignments and turn them in when I can for full credit. My Psychology teacher did request I fax her the ER docs though. Disbality guidelines don't cover flu and having migraines, they only cover documented illness. The point of the Disability Advisor is to be able to corroborate your story in case something should happen, but they still need some type of documentation.

Perhaps if you got your Physician or Neurologist to write the school a letter she would let you make up the work? If you have only missed one assignment I don't think you would fail.

Good Luck and feel better!

Many professors are woefully undereducated about disability accomodations and the ADA. They don't understand what their obligations are, so you need to be well-versed in your rights.

If your disability accomodations give you extra time to turn in work due to migraine, then your professor is breaking the LAW by not following the guidelines of your accomodations. Your disability advisor that arranges your disability accomodations needs to get involved in this to make sure your rights are not being violated. You should NOT have to withdraw from a class because a professor does not understand or is unwilling to comply with your accomodations. Professors also have to protect your confidentiality. They CANNOT ask you what your disability is or single you out as a disabled student in a class.

According to my disability advisor, migraine is not usually a covered disability because for most folks, it's episodic. However, if you have severe, chronic, disabliing migraines, you can get disability status. Migraines are one of my documented disabilities with my university.

You NEED to fight for your rights here. Not only for yourself, but for every student with a disability who comes after you.

I've had amazingly positive experiences with my disability status. I was fully out to my undergraduate department and to my current graduate department. Professors have gone above and beyond to meet my accomodations and make sure I stay healthy. I spoke with a professor yesterday about taking a month-long extension on a paper. She was so kind, it almost brought me to tears. It shouldn't be this hard for you. You deserve respect and equality. Nothing less.