Lack of accessibility can shatter opportunities anywhere, including Gallaudet University. As a deaf-blind graduate student, my dream of obtaining a degree in Deaf Education is in danger because of accessibility barriers.
People who shape this world are responsible to ensure that the world is accessible for all people, including people with disabilities. In a university environment, the responsibility of providing accessibility ultimately lies in the hands of those who develop the curriculum and those who facilitate and train prospective professionals before entering their fields of work.
One-third of all deaf individuals have an additional disability, such as learning disability or vision loss. Thus, Gallaudet University should ensure that education is tailored to meet the needs of these deaf individuals.
Has this been done? Not quite.
In my case, I am short one practicum (or in other words, an internship within driving distance from the campus with direct faculty supervision) and one course from completing my program in Deaf Education. I was preparing to graduate this semester only to find myself compounded with problems that I could not have dreamed of.
Truth be told, many practicum sites are not prepared to work with future professionals with multiple disabilities. I had a team of Deaf-Blind interpreters ready to work with me, and I asked for two simple accommodations: (1) a box of black Sharpies to use for writing as it helps me read the writing and (2) electronic scans of all handouts and lessons so I can read them on my iPad. The reaction, however, was flustered. The practicum site and my academic advisor agreed to postpone my starting date to “enable” them to be prepared and to provide their students and me a “positive experience.”
At a meeting where we discussed different questions and concerns about my practicum, the school teacher of the practicum site brought up two different options: another postponement for them to prepare to meet my accommodation needs or for me to opt out as the class was not an ideal choice for me because it involved daily, highly visual hands-on activities. In other words, the practicum questioned my ability to teach based on my deaf-blindness and delayed my starting date.
Because of the delay with the practicum, I lost my means of transportation. I was supposed to carpool with a group of students to the site, but they were fixed on the same original schedule that I had. My practicum opportunity then became tied with my transportation issues, contradicting with the Department of Education Field Experience Handbook that states, “Placement decisions are made based on each teacher candidate’s pre-professional development needs and not on transportation issues” [emphasis added] (Department of Education Field Experience Handbook, p. 12).
I spent over a month and half meeting with the department, the faculty supervisor, and the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSWD) to find a solution. I went through the due process to resolve the situation professionally—only to continue to get a “no” for every solution I proposed. The supervisor, my academic advisor, and my placement coordinator did not provide me with an action plan with alternatives other than the two transportation options suggested at our departmental meeting on October 2, 2012. One suggestion was to ask the students I was supposed to carpool with to change their practicum schedule to fit with my schedule. Another option was to contact Gallaudet University’s Department of Transportation to see what options they have for transportation.
My classmates could not change their practicum dates to fit mine, so I was left with only one option, which was to rent a van from the Department of Transportation for $45 daily. Unfortunately, only Gallaudet employees are allowed to drive the van and the department did not locate a driver for me.
Since the department and the practicum were still not prepared to address my needs, I decided to request for a waiver for the semester internship. I got a response stating that I was expected to complete the EDU 789: Practicum II & Seminar and that the transportation was my responsibility.
An alternate placement proposal was made with the department in hope to serve as a substitute for the original placement. I was given only a week to identify a suitable placement or be forced to withdraw from my course. I searched for a solution with assistance from OSWD and found one on Gallaudet campus. I went ahead with a proposal under the time constraint and lack of assistance from my department. As a result, the proposal was rejected without further collaboration because the proposal did not clearly define whether I would be teaching directly to students. In the end, I was told that my proposal was rejected and that my practicum assignment was cancelled. Because of this, I would not be able to pass and should withdraw from the course.
However, when students with financial support register for the same course again, they no longer qualify for the support. Therefore, my funding will not cover my tuition, room and board for my second attempt to find a practicum. This means I am financially incapable of continuing my education due to the department’s irresponsibility regarding my case.
I spent four years in graduate school, changing from counseling to deaf education in hope to obtain a master’s degree, but now my dream is about to disappear. The undue burden placed on my shoulder in seeking solutions to address my problem has left me scarred.
Why won’t people be more receptive to accessibility concerns at Gallaudet University? It is painful to try to make things work only to be shut down. One hundred and more credits in graduate school become another failure—and it is not by my own choice.
How can those who promote and advertise accessibility do this to whom seek accessibility? It is truly a barbaric act, and it shatters dreams.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
You should get much rights as anyone else on the Gallaudet campus. A lot issues are NOT resolved on the campus. The old timers staff are still around trying to oppress us on the education we want to fulfill our dreams. Contact me and I’ll help you best I can.
Contact me ASAP as my center involves with deaf- blind services and referrals how solve this situation.
Anonymous
“Anonymous” how am I supposed to contact you if I do not even know your contact information?
I’m very proud of Ryan’s professional approach to resolve this practicum issue. He has worked very hard to obtain his graduate degree! I’m appalled with the University to be blocking Ryan from his degree! Ryan has approached this with extremely well written appeals with well founded information, but he continues to be rejected. Does not our educational system promote seccess! When a student has the obsticals Ryan has confronted and the appropiate actions he has taken, where is this University to cellebrate the fine person and student Ryan is and grant him his degree and encourage a future of success!?! Ryan has needed to become a self advocate, and an excellent one at that! I am Ryan father and formerly was the Chairperson for the Minnesota Governor’s Council On Developmental Disablities for four years. You future is bright Ryan!!! Keep on reaching for your dreams!!! Those individuals at Gallaudet University who are blocking this from you need to step into the 21st century! I love you, Ryan!!! Dad
Ryan is truly wonderful and he strives to make a difference in his educational life. He learned how to overcome every obstacle in his path and he became a better man in Deaf and Deaf-Blind community. Without him, this Gallaudet University’s image remains dark. Importantly, it was built to empower every student with the knowledge and skills to keep achieving personal and professional success in everywhere they live and work. It is a world-class campus in America based on representing diversity in order to excellence in learning and student service. It is supposed to coalesce a vibrant, progressive, and diversified image! Now is the time for him to illuminate this University’s core values.
I am Ryan’s best friend. Without him, I never learn about Deaf-Blind culture. For that, he made me a better man today. I look forward to see him making a big difference in the future.
There is no below. There is no above. We all are equal. I am proud of you, Ryan.
Independent and even dissenting student journalism has a long and proud history in the academy. Taking this article down is not the act of a responsible news source.
What ever happened to freedom of speech? Is it the university’s decision to go up against our constitution now?? How can a school that supposedly helps those with disabilities be so insensitive? Ryan, I’m glad you’re keeping up the fight because it would be easier to give up–and that is probably what they want! This school is becoming an embarassment to equal rights and equal access. Maybe administration needs some people who are actually living in the 21st century. Ryan, keep it up. We’re all extremely proud of you and what you have accomplished!!
What part of we don;t provide student transportation don’t you all understand? The University will work with you to try and assist providing transportation, but maybe you all need to grow up and be adults by taking responsibility for providing your own transportation! Ryan stated in one of his posts that he was able to get transportation, but lacked the initial funds to start until he was paid back. That just seems like that is a lack of planning on Ryan’s part! And what about his family? They don’t want him to finish? They could “pony up” the money!
His dream isn’t shattered … just delayed!
How do you get a doctorate without being able to spell “success”, “obstacles”, or “celebrate”, use proper grammar, or understand that the purpose of higher education is NOT to promote success… it is to give students the opportunity to obtain an education. Whether or not they succeed or fail at this is entirely up to the individual student.
The article can also be read at
http://dbtt.org/a-dream-shattered-by-accessibility/
Excuse my language but what you are being forced to put through is full of bull****. Wow, just wow. I grew up facing so much discrimination and ‘no sorry we can’t ’cause you are deaf’. I was denied a job as lifeguard despite the fact that I already had american red cross lifeguard certification, all just because I was deaf. Of course I dragged EEOC (equal employment opportunity commission) down on them and got payment in the end that would equal to how much $ I would have earned had I been hired.
But the point is that every single deaf person certainly did experience bull**** discrimination at more than one point in their life. Yet, at Gally, everyone seemed to have forgotten what it feels like to be a minority, what it feels like to be discriminated, to be told “No you can’t” just because you have a certain disability. I don’t understand how some people, especially at gally, could forget that ugly feeling. I certainly do not forget the feeling.
I highly applaud you for facing them in very respectful process. Only if they would have shown you the respect toward your rights to equal access to education. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Ryan, you should reach out to friends or even people outside the Gallaudet environment to see if anyone can help you with transportation. Can you still do the practicum now? I can help scanning all the handouts and lessons for you, if that will help you read them on your iPad. How can I get in touch with you? I might be able to help you out with a few things. No, don’t give up your dream of an graduate degree…