Junior Haynes Bunn recounts her terrible experiences with Disability Support Services and calls for the University to improve its capability to help temporarily disabled students.
GW’s Disability Support Services is in a sad state of affairs. I have had the pleasure of dealing with the office not once, but twice during my career here at the University. Both times highlighted the inadequate services offered for temporary disabilities.
On the DSS Web site, there is a page dedicated to “temporary conditions,” but little help was given to me during the two occasions I had a temporary disability. Most recently, I injured my ankle, which required a week of walking with crutches. My first thought Monday morning was, “How do I get to my class at 1957 E St.?”
Wow – whine whine whine. What a lousy waste of 300 words. Did anyone take a step back and realize how much of a whining five year old the author sounds like? And stop quoting the ADA like you understand it.
While I understand the writer’s frustration, and can appreciate their take on matters, the issue is not one with the DS office. ADA protects individuals with disabilities, but a ‘temporary’ disability is not covered. Legally. There’s the argument against this particular complaint. On the larger scale, the university does not transport students–any students. There is no obligation to provide a service simply for convenience when it is not otherwise offered.
I could go on and rant about the writer needing a clearer understanding of the legal issue, but doubt it would change his/her mind because it appears s/he just wants to vent.