CW: Ableism, Depression & Suicidality
In May, a small group of students staged a walkout at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. They say the university is discriminating against disabled students.Students say the university violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. They allege that the violations “undermine the rights and dignity of disabled students” and create barriers to their ability to pursue education.
Melissa Mitchler, a part-time student for the past nine years, has multiple sclerosis. In an interview with WPR, she said that when she started at Oshkosh, professors understood the accommodations she required.
When she returned to in-person classes following the height of the pandemic, she thought that things had changed. She felt she had to prove she had extenuating circumstances, which was previously assumed.
“It’s honestly one of the most soul crushing feelings in the world because you almost feel blindsided,” Mitchler said . “Like I was this dumb kid with rose-colored glasses on.” Professors were now demanding physicians’ notes, disregarding her requests, and singling her out in class. It’s strained her relationship with the school. “How do you watch a school take the greatest things, throw them away and still have respect for it?” she told WPR.
The changes come following the loss of 250 staff members due to budget cuts. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh says number of employees helping disabled students has been cut in half from eight to four. Students reported that requests for accommodations are now being delayed or denied, resulting in poor academic performance since they are unable to get the accommodations they need.
“Disabled students are falling through the cracks,” said sophomore Sophia Schneider during the walkout. Disabled Students say that the university’s budget cuts disproportionately affect them. Alex Hummel, university chief of staff, denies this. “We’re working hard to make sure that we’re able to provide services at a solid and good level,” Hummel said. “Every student has felt something, I think, from workforce reductions, so we’ve been very careful as best as we can to shield the student experience from any negative effect.”
The campus is also physically inaccessible for disabled students. Elevators are frequently broken, and there aren’t enough accessible parking spaces. Piping also blocks some of the walkways on campus. “We have asked numerous, numerous times for administration and staff on campus to relook at these issues and to find ways that we can allocate funding to disabled services,” said first-year student Allie Borland.
Hummel stated that the university is doing its best to listen to students’ concerns and make changes if needed. For example, lighting in the testing center has been reduced and white noise machines have been installed. Over the summer the institution will work on disability training and faculty seminars.
According to Chris Walker, a retired disabled military veteran, the group is requesting that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigate UW-Oshkosh for disability discrimination. At least one student filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, both of which were denied.
Disabled students nationwide struggle to get a college education. The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that disabled students have lower GPAs. Disabled students are also more likely to drop out of college before graduation.
There is also a disparity between the number of students who say they have disabilities and those who register with their campus disability services office. The truth is that far too many disabled college and university students choose not to request the accommodations that they may require to succeed. The biggest reason is perhaps stigma.
Disability stigma is an ongoing concern on college campuses, resulting in discrimination, a hostile learning environment, and psychological distress. According to research, disabled students, both with visible and invisible disabilities, are often ridiculed by others, regarded as difficult to understand, and treated with pity and avoidance. Long-term stigma may result in low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideation.
In my experience, it is extremely difficult to get accommodations in college. When I started college at Westfield State University, I quickly realized how difficult the process was going to be. Getting assistance with note taking was challenging. I also had to renew my accommodations every semester.
After a couple years, I left Westfield State University. I opted to attend my local community college. I had always heard wonderful things about the community college. I thought I’d do well in a small classroom setting.
Sadly, getting accommodations was even more difficult. Last year, the director of the disability services office at Greenfield Community College said notetakers weren’t an option for remote classes. When I brought this up to her, I was told I had “misinterpreted” my accommodation agreement.
In March of this year, I emailed the president of Greenfield Community College. I emailed her because the disability services office wasn’t meeting my needs. She forwarded my email to the provost who oversees the disability services office.
Two months later, I received an email from the provost regarding my concerns. His response left me in disbelief. Instead of offering to help me get what I needed, he suggested that I transfer to another college. College faculty shouldn’t suggest that a student go elsewhere, instead of trying to help them.
Disabled people need to have institutional barriers to higher education removed. We can accomplish so much if we are given the support we need.
Sources:
Akin, Dan, and Lisa M. Huang. “Perceptions of College Students with Disabilities.” Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability 32.1 (2019): 21-33.
Blasey, Julia, et al. ‘Accommodation Use and Academic Outcomes for College Students With Disabilities’. Psychological Reports, vol. 126, no. 4, SAGE Publications Inc, Aug. 2023, pp. 1891–1909, https://doi.org10.1177/00332941221078011.
“For Disability Pride Month-We Highlight Our Work on College Campus Access Issues.” U.S. Government Accountability Office , The U.S. Government, 9 July 2024, http://www.gao.gov/blog/disability-pride-month-we-highlight-our-work-college-campus-access-issues.
Faust, Margaret. “Students with Disabilities at UW-Oshkosh Stage Walkout Accusing University of Discrimination.” Wisconsin Public Radio, NPR , 3 May 2024, http://www.wpr.org/news/students-disabilities-uw-oshkosh-stage-walkout-university-discrimination.
Levin, Stephanie A.N. “Many Students Don’t Inform Their Colleges about Their Disability. That Needs to Change. .” EdSurge, International Society for Technology in Education, 1 Mar. 2024, http://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-03-01-many-students-don-t-inform-their-colleges-about-their-disability-that-needs-to-change.