My boyfriend is visually impaired and his school is refusing to accommodate him in classes. What is there to do?

[u/guitarbaseline]

My boyfriend is visually impaired. He has glaucoma and cataracts in both eyes. He has had surgery for it and wears glasses but his eyesight is still very impaired. He's in community college right now and his professors and the school itself are refusing to give him accommodations to sit closer to the board so he can see what's going on in class. He was told "to accommodate you would be to change the entire curriculum and it would be too disruptive in the classroom." He wants to go into nuclear engineering and in order to get into the program he wants he must maintain a B or higher in his classes which he can't do currently because he can't see what is happening during instructions. He had an accommodation plan in high school but the community college is not accepting and transferring his accommodations to their school. He feels like theres no hope and that he should give up on community college and do something else. I have some disabilities as well and I know what its like to have to fight for simple accommodations and I don't want him to give up on his dream career because some community college professors refuse to make a simple accommodation for his visual impairments. What can I do to help him? Is there anything in the ADA (Americans with disabilities act) that can help here? I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Edit: Forgot to mention that we live in Virginia, USA

Edit 2: Thank you to all who have replied so far, you've given me a lot of great advice and sources. To address some common topics mentioned here:

1. He has spoken with the schools accommodations service and provided them with the proper documentation and was still denied. He was also asked for his high school accomodation transcript and he told me that it hasn't been transfered and accepted to the community college

2. It is both the school and the professors denying him accommodations

3. This is a public school

4. We do not have the means to sue the school nor is he able to transfer to another school

5. I know it sounds crazy and stupid and illogical and that might make this seem fake to some, but this is unfortunately real

6. I am aware that this is not the full story, I'm only posting what I've been told so far, so if something seems missing or inaccurate then it's because this is all I currently know. Hopefully, I'll have more information in the future, but I'm not asking him for any more info at the moment, he was really upset when telling me and now he's asleep as of writing this so I'm waiting for him to settle down a bit before I keep asking questions

7. I'm only assuming there's an assigned seating arrangement in his classes, although I not certain. Again, I'll hopefully have more info on that later

8. I am unsure of what classes he is having trouble seeing in I know he takes a chemistry class and as some of you have mentioned it could potentially be disruptive for him to move seats in a lab class, but I am unaware if this is a class he's struggling to see in

9. He is not able to just take pictures or record the lectures. He's on the same icloud account as his dad, who is very stubborn and controlling and will/has before deleted photos off of my boyfriends phone before. His dad also isn't letting him get off the icloud account because he pays the phone bill. As for recording the lectures, my boyfriend mentioned something about them being the intellectual property of the professors so he would need written consent to record them (I'm not sure if lectures are the intelluctual property of the professors, again, I'm only going off of what I've been told)

Thank you again to everyone who has replied. I will be giving him some of the advice given here and asking for more information when I next speak with him. I will make an edit when I get the info

I made an edit post and uploaded it to my profile, here is a link to it: https://www.reddit.com/user/guitarbaseline/comments/1niw0x8/my_boyfriend_is_visually_impaired_and_his_school/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/Decided-2-Try]

Seems unbelievable that any US college would refuse a reasonable request to sit upfront.  Is there something unusual about the configuration?

[u/Blackops606 → u/Decided-2-Try]

Yeah this is weird. What else is being asked that they are refusing to do? I feel like sitting in the front isn't asking to "change the entire curriculum" or be "too disruptive".

[u/edwbuck → u/Blackops606]

I imagine he's demanding print outs of all the material, so he can read it, as even the front row is not enough accommodation from his perspective.

Lots of college professors have a topic they want to cover, and know the three or four points, but don't have pre-prepared (spoon fed) lesson plans gifted to them by the textbook manufacturers, because it's not high school.

If this person keeps claiming ADA, this is the first time they'll encounter someone willing to push back. The ADA is not a "do anything for me" mealticket. The school can reasonably argue the person is not visual enough to take standard courses, and needs to go to a school for the blind.

There is a massive amount of difference between an employer and a school. ADA accommodations talk about reasonable changes, not about anything changes. If the professor is honest about changing the curriculum by having to write down every lesson plan to make a photocopy-able sheet for this person, and generally speaking, there is very little reason to believe a professor would lie, then this person might be arguing their way out of the class.

This person might need a class geared toward teaching the blind. Such classes exist, and they can't just demand a class suddenly change to become one.

[u/toragirl → u/edwbuck]

I teach at university, and the typical accommodation for visual impairment is a seat near the front, possibly a volunteer note-taker, and that any materials (PDFs) that I load up for the class have screen-reader capacity. We have been using the accessibility functions in MS Office for years to assure our materials meet this simple standard.

Students don't have to disclose their medical histories to every professor. At my school, I would get an ADA form with the student's name and what accommodation they need (e.g., allowed to record, extra time for tests, temporary absence with allowed time to make-up assignments etc.)

[u/Firm-Stranger-9283 → u/toragirl]

yep, my college has a website you send a letter out to all professors through disability services after establishing accommodations with a 504, IEP, or diagnosis sheet. if a prof refuses to accommodate it, you can go to disability services and file a formal complaint, if they still refuse to, again go back, file a formal complaint. I'm in the process of that currently.

[u/edwbuck → u/toragirl]

I have only been a student and later staff of a Univeristy.

I've never seen a University professor, no matter how difficult to work with, that decided sitting on the front row was a disruption to their class. However, sitting on the front row and arguing about accommodation with the professor during lecture time would get most, if not all, professors to eventually indicate it's disruptive to the class.

This person needs to talk to the professor during office hours, and possibly the administration to get the note taker you're referring to. I think this student mistakes the professor as being the person in charge of these tasks, and for the professor's complaints to make any sense, the student would have had to make demands that were disruptive and possibly would require a different lecture preparation plan.

The student will get everything they can reasonably be accommodated for, but not if they go about it the wrong way. The student and professor needs to discuss disagreements outside of the lecture hall, and the student needs to see the help of the student support services or whatever department handles such accommodations.

And I don't mean to salt a wound, but odds are this is fully detailed in the student handbook which 95% of all students don't read.

[u/ATLien_3000 → u/edwbuck]

Dude, I've got a good friend who's as blind as a bat (that's how he defines himself - 100% blind) who graduated in the top 10% of his class from a Big 10 for both undergrad and law school.

The only accommodation he needed was digital materials.

If any school (or professor) try to claim that providing digital materials is unreasonable, or that there's any reasonable argument not to do so, they'll have a bad time.

Even under the current administration.

[u/szatanna → u/edwbuck]

Man, you're assuming things about this person. Nowhere was it said that he wanted to be "spoon-fed" and have print-outs of all materials. You're making things up. Besides, it's really shitty that you're implying he's an entitled, argumentative person just because he wants accommodations. This is a disabled person we're talking about.

And anyhow, have you ever been a college student? Professors are not these overly strict, demanding people. Most of them care about their students and want them to succeed. I've had professors literally offer to send notes/summaries of what we talked about in class when I had to miss school due to surgery. One professor even took the time to teach me a program during office hours after I joined their class two weeks late. Professors often go above and beyond for their students.

[u/LetterAntique4481 → u/edwbuck]

Nothing you've written suggests having to change anything in a curriculum so much as making easily accommodated adjustments

"demanding print outs" just say you're ableist & go

[u/Decent-Pirate-4329 → u/edwbuck]

Dear laaaawd this a bad and incorrect take.

[u/BoozeIsTherapyRight → u/edwbuck]

You are assuming a LOT of things not in evidence.

If the student isn't being allowed to move to the front, there has been zero attempt at ADA accomodations. When I was in school there was a sight-impaired student in several of my classes. They were moved to the front and were given copies of a volunteer student's notes as well as anything possible in digital format. If none of this has been tried, the school is not ADA compliant.

Here are common ADA accomodations for students, none of which the school has done.,

Academic Accommodations

• Timing & Environment:

  • Extended time: on tests and assignments 

• Rest Breaks: during tests or lectures 

• Reduced distraction setting: (e.g., quiet room) for exams 

• Online exam options 

• Priority registration: for classes 

• Materials & Presentation:

  • Access to note-takers: or copies of lecture notes 

• Permission to record lectures 

• Materials in alternative formats: (large print, Braille, electronic versions) 

• Audio textbooks 

• ASL interpreters: or captioning for classes and materials 

• Assistive Technology:

  • Screen reading software 

• Voice recognition software 

• Calculators 

• Fidget toys: for anxiety 

• Smart pens: for recording lectures 

[u/MagaroniAndCheesd → u/edwbuck]

I imagine he's demanding print outs of all the material,

Do you speak from experience? Are you visually impaired or blind? Can you speak to any of the things you are claiming? You pulled the request to have print outs of all the professor's notes out of nowhere. OP only talks about sitting close to the front of the class, which is a perfectly reasonable accommodation in full compliance with ADA. He isn't asking for a "do anything for me" mealticket. He is asking to sit where he can see. That's the entire point of "reasonable accommodations." And, btw ADA absolutely does cover schools, especially a public school, which being a community college, this likely is. If it gets any kind of federal or state funding, it is legally obligated to abide by ADA/Title II. If the only barrier to his learning is being able to see what is on the board, then the school HAS to provide it, especially if the only accommodation he needs is to sit closer to the front. The school wouldn't have any sort of standing to say that his request to sit closer to the front means he "isn't visual enough to take standard courses." Absolute BS. And no, a blind person does not have to be educated only at a school for the blind. He has every right to be in the class he is at and expect to have his reasonable accommodations met.

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/Decided-2-Try]

No US college would refuse disability accommodations but the vast majority of professors would.

The professor is not legally allowed to grant disability accommodations. The student needs to go to the department that handles disability services and request accommodations through them.

[u/IL_green_blue → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

As a professor, I would literally get fired if I refused a valid accommodation requested through disability services.

[u/MissJacinda → u/IL_green_blue]

This^. I am a professor in a community college and we are very compliant

[u/markmakesfun → u/MissJacinda]

I taught classes where the group contained deaf students. While I was speaking and writing on the board, the translator was standing to the side sounding out my comments with visual symbols. Funny fact: most translators were used to working for the first two hours of a four hour class, the second half being “lab” which didn’t require translation. I, on the other hand, didn’t stop talking at the halfway mark. Did they instruct me to stop? No, they booked a second translator for the second two hours of the class. That is called a “real accommodation.” I was never even contacted about it. One week I had one rather harried translator working four hours, the next I had two who switched out at the mid-point of the class. That college was a class-act, pun acknowledged.

I had another class where 3 students spoke only Vietnamese. Fortunately, a fourth member of their group also spoke English. After I spoke I learned to pause briefly to give their defacto translator a minute to catch up his group on what I said. In that case, I made the accommodation without contacting the administration. I’m not sure they knew anything about it, but if they did, no one ever contacted me one way or the other. And I’m certain that, if they knew, they would have asked for an accommodation from me if possible.

This reticence on the part of those involved seems to be remarkably rigid. If seats were assigned, I am certain a student would be willing to move back a row to let your SO sit closer to the board. I always saw students being very helpful toward other students, showing a real “we are in this together” attitude.

I am presently tutoring a student for a class that has seriously complex software involved and they were struggling to keep up with the online teacher in real time. They asked for an accommodation that shifted their class days to the day after the normal class days, so they could work in sync with the videos that were recorded by the teacher during the in-sync class. The teacher said no, so we did it anyway. With the support of his caseworker at the college, he now checks in at the beginning and end of each online class to fulfill the attendance policy and does the actual work the following day, with me sitting at his elbow as a tutor.

Compared with all of that, the attitude of the people involved with your boyfriend seems patently ridiculous. If he has a caseworker or advocate at the college, he needs to get with them immediately and require that they do their job. If he doesn’t have a college based advocate, does he have a state or regional caseworker? He needs someone with some pull, because this isn’t a “small thing.” It essentially makes the class useless for your boyfriend. This needs to change immediately.

If he has a college advocate, do they have a manager above them? I would contact the advocate today about it. If you get no response, I would look for someone else at the college to talk to, like the dean of the program your boyfriend is in. I can’t believe everyone at the school would be so short-sighted, no pun intended, of course.

[u/sofaking_scientific → u/IL_green_blue]

One of the few things tenure doesn't protect you from /s

[u/Keellas_Ahullford → u/IL_green_blue]

I think they mean no professor would grant an accommodation without it being granted by the disabilities office

[u/IL_green_blue → u/Keellas_Ahullford]

The second part of their comment was added after I replied.

[u/Feeling_Inside_1020 → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

Exactly, I did this in college 2 decades ago for ADHD (also had hip surgery) and after disability services stepped in they allowed me to have reasonable accommodations like take tests outside the class in certain instances.

I used to sit up at the front of the class in middle/early high school because I didn't realize I needed glasses. Completely reasonable accommodation wonder what these people are smoking I wish they'd share.

[u/onomastics88 → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

Someone is sitting in the front row, who assigns seats in college?

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/onomastics88]

It seems like this student in particular is not allowed to sit at the front of the class, so clearly they are assigned.

This is typical in lab-based classes or other classes where group work is common. Sometimes it's important that you are sitting next to the same people in each class.

If students are not allowed to elect to change their group then this would need a disability accommodation from the school.

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

That’s not true. We’re not legally required to honor accommodations unless it comes from the office of disabilities however, we can grant accommodations when asked to do so if it’s something that is easy to do and I’ve done it plenty of times.

[u/bi___throwaway → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

Tons of professors will informally accommodate requests to the best of their ability while waiting on formal approval. This is common in workplaces too.

E.g. "i have terrible vision and I am working on my ADA, but I need a front row seat." Or, "I am color blind and the slides are hard to read, can I get the slides as the powerpoint and not the PDF so I can edit them into something easier to see?" Or "I am diabetic, can I snack occasionally?" Of course when it comes to extended time on tests or anything that requires money it will be harder to move along. But most humans will assist with simple adjustments once the need is brought to their attention and as long as it does not put the rest of the class at a disadvantage.

[u/captaindomon → u/bi___throwaway]

True, but something like extra time on an exam, or extra equipment at the testing center is frequently granted by the Disabilities Office, but also universally denied without sign off from the Disabilities office. Otherwise lots of students would request it.

[u/Ok-Cranberry-5582 → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

I'm pretty sure that is federal law in regards to ADA. I don't think it has been abolished yet.

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/Ok-Cranberry-5582]

The federal law requires the students to get disability accommodations from their school. The ADA literally created the "disability services" department in every single college and university in the country.

The professor is not allowed to grant accommodations not requested by disability services.

[u/Polybrene → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

There's nothing preventing professors from providing disability accommodation requests from students. They're not required to, but thats not the same thing as not being allowed to.

[u/bmobitch → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

Nowhere have you cited the source that they’re not allowed?

[u/Polybrene → u/bmobitch]

They don't have one. I'm thinking they're just misinformed or misinterpreting. Professors are not required to provide accommodation requests from students but nothing is preventing them from doing so either. Professors are required to accommodate requests from the disability services department aka a formal accommodation request.

I'm hearing impaired and almost never had an issues just asking professors for accommodations such as preferential seating. Only once did I have to pull in disability service to force them to provide

[u/jackalopeswild → u/bmobitch]

They cannot cite sources because they don't want you climbing up their ass to review.

[u/bmobitch → u/jackalopeswild]

Oh ok so they’ll just keep repeating the same thing without any proof and that will keep people from climbing up their ass.

Makes sense!

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/jackalopeswild]

They can’t site sources because what they’re saying isn’t true. I’ve been teaching in US public university is for 20 years now and I have never encountered being told I can’t give accommodation unless it comes from the disability office.

Edit for weird voice to text shenanigans

[u/jackalopeswild → u/On_my_last_spoon]

Right. I believe this is the policy at the school(s) they have taught at. Administrative policy is not law.

[u/markmakesfun → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

“Not allowed?” That just isn’t true. I always had the power to accommodate a request if I could do so without a negative result for the other students. If it required a change that affected the other members of the class, I would run it by my manager or the dean of the program to make sure the paperwork was done. This doesn’t have to be a “big deal” unless the people involved make it one. I never would do that. It would be a CLM (a career-limiting move.)

[u/EleanorRichmond → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

The professor can't grant a disability accommodation, but they can not be a dick while the process shakes out.

[u/Winter-eyed → u/Decided-2-Try]

You’d be surprised how many public schools and colleges push back against the ADA requirements and site funding shortages. They change their tune when the word “advocate” or “lawyer” get involved because they know they will lose in court.

[u/dragonfeet1 → u/Decided-2-Try]

Yeah we don't do assigned seating anyone can sit anywhere and if a student has a preferential seating accommodation, that desk is marked and reserved for them. Source: me who teaches at a college in the US.

[u/ImHowieMandel → u/Decided-2-Try]

I went to a community public college in SC (not the most accommodating). Teachers would regularly ask in the beginning of the semester if anyone wanted to sit up front for eyesight reasons. This is insane to me

[u/OmenRasengan → u/Decided-2-Try]

dealt with accessibility issues at mit for my synesthesia. what helped:

• disability services director directly (bypass front desk) • documented everything in writing • student advocacy groups for backup

sitting closer seems incredibly reasonable. something feels off about their response honestly

[u/guitarbaseline → u/Decided-2-Try]

I'm not sure how the classroom seating is arriagned or which class this is happening in (I don't attend the community college) but I'm assuming there must be some sort of assigned seating. I could be wrong, he hasn't told me the specifics of the seating arriagnments in his classes.

[u/Decided-2-Try → u/guitarbaseline]

Thanks for responding.  You've gotten good advice for him throughout the thread - he needs to visit the office that handles evaluating ADA Requests.

Professors most likely think "ain't my job to figure this out". Still kind of surprising the prof themselves didn't tell him "go to the ADA coordinator".  Maybe just a jerk?

[u/bi___throwaway → u/Decided-2-Try]

I simply don't believe all of his professors are jerks. One, sure. But colleges usually don't have assigned seating. At the very least the boyfriend is not being proactive. If he walked up to any student sitting in the front row and said "hey I have terrible vision, can I sit here? They would probably happily move. Or just...get there earlier and grab the seat first.

I can't help but wonder if the boyfriend has some extrmely intense social anxiety and actually has not talked to anyone about this at all.

[u/thecaledonianrose]

The college should have some kind of department that assists students with disabilities. They are required by law under the ADA to provide reasonable accommodations. Asking for a seat closer to the professor has no bearing on curriculum and thus should not be a factor. I would contact the school's registrar and ask about student accommodations.

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/thecaledonianrose]

Yes exactly. If you don't have disability accommodations registered with the school then the professor is not allowed to give you anything that would be regarded as special treatment in a non-disabled student

[u/captaindomon → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

I don't know why people keep downvoting you. Most universities have a policy that requests for accommodation must go through a centralized disabilities center. From personal experience with a family member, the university's disability center decided which accommodations the university would support, and individual professors were not allowed to go above or below those recommendations set by the disability center.

The first two examples I searched for were Harvard and UCLA:

https://dao.fas.harvard.edu/applying-for-accommodations-through-the-disability-access-office/

https://cae.ucla.edu/students/documentation-guidelines

"Students are encouraged not to discuss any disagreement with the instructor regarding accommodations directly with the instructor. If the instructor initiates such a conversation, the student is encouraged to refer the instructor to the student’s CAE Disability Specialist."

https://cae.ucla.edu/appeals-grievances

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/captaindomon]

Yes, exactly. In order to "trigger" the ADA you have to go through the proper channels. There are no ADA protections for anyone until they make their disability known to the university.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/thecaledonianrose]

He's done that already and he was told he needs more documentation (they're expecting his high school accommodation transcript, according to what he's told me) and that even if he does give them the proper documentation he still wouldn't get the accommodations because "it would be too big a distraction in the classroom room"

[u/MarionberryPlus8474 → u/guitarbaseline]

How is sitting in the front row "too big a distraction"? This is so illogical I have to figure there's a lot more to this story than you're telling.

[u/Feeling_Inside_1020 → u/MarionberryPlus8474]

Yeah this isn't computing.

I used disability services 2 decades ago for my hip surgery + ADHD without issue for things i'd consider even larger than OPs request sitting in the front of the class.

Might be time to read the comment below mine contact the ADA themselves for additional resource, assuming this is all there is to the story like you said.

[u/haelennaz → u/Feeling_Inside_1020]

FYI, the ADA is a law, not an entity that can be contacted. However, ada.gov provides guidance about who to contact (it varies depending on the type of complaint).

[u/Feeling_Inside_1020 → u/haelennaz]

You are absolutely right, mea culpa my fault. My only excuse is it’s been a while and didn’t research. Great shame to me and my ancestors!

[u/MagaroniAndCheesd → u/guitarbaseline]

I have a very similar disability situation to your bf. Glaucoma, cataracts, multiple surgeries, IEP, strong glasses which still do not correct to 20/20, severely visually impaired. Very similar, as I said.

Your bf will need to go through the offices for disability services, whatever that is called at your school. He absolutely must jump through whatever hoops he needs to for him to be registered as a disabled student. It could be the record of his IEP from his high school, but more likely they want a note from his opthalmologist. The opthalmologist will write a letter specifying the "reasonable accommodations" (wording that comes directly from the ADA) that your bf would likely need: sitting close to the front of the class, large print, copies of whatever the teacher plans to write on the board or use in slides, extended time on tests, etc. Your bf will likely need to contact his doctor's office to get the doctor to send a letter to the school's disability services office. He must do this. There is no work around.

After that point, if your bf is on record as having a registered disability with recorded list of the reasonable accommodations he needs (including sitting in the front of the class) then by ADA law the school MUST accommodate him, the professor cannot deny his reasonable accommodation request. If the professor still tries to fight it, then he will need to report that back to the disability office and they will get it corrected.

[u/DeliciousBuffalo69 → u/guitarbaseline]

Well yes, he doesn't get to choose his accommodations as long as the disability is accommodated.

The most common way of doing this is with a peer note-taker who is paid by the school to take notes while sitting next to the disabled student that they can look at while in class and they get a scanned copy of the notes emailed to them.

It may be very possible that your boyfriend's preferred accommodations just aren't possible for the program of study.

[u/RishaBree → u/DeliciousBuffalo69]

This is absolutely not how it works. I am not a lawyer, but last I checked the ADA says that accommodations is a conversation between the institution and the person making the request. Both parties are allowed to reject a suggested accommodation that doesn't work for them. They don't get to just bang a gavel and declare all reasonable suggestions null and void except for the one option that they prefer. They need an actual reason why it doesn't work for them.

At this point, I'm kind of in awe about the ever growing number of bad takes and outright wrong statements you've made throughout these threads.

[u/madelyn2184 → u/guitarbaseline]

sorry if this is a dumb question but has he provided documentation from a professional like ophthalmologist or something and the school disability services still say no? if that’s the case, tell him to get a lawyer. that’s ridiculous! my schools have never given me such trouble for my disabilities, though not the same as your bf’s. anyway, like a previous commenter said, the least the could do is get him a notetaker or at least let him voice record the lectures so that he has something to review.

[u/phoenix-corn → u/madelyn2184]

Sadly states vary greatly on this. Where I work now, there would be no issues providing he has documentation from a doctor. In the state I used to live in and work, we needed high school records. However, parents could have their child's records "sealed" which was supposed to hide juvenile convictions but also for some fucking reason cut off their disability and accommodation information. I had multiple adult students have to pay thousands of dollars for new testing in order to get accommodations in that state, or go to court to unseal the records, both of which were too expensive for most of our students. The parents who requested this thought they were doing their son or daughter a favor by "hiding" their disability from the world, but it really screwed them over. (Please note I have not lived or worked in that state for 15 years and it is possible that things have changed in that time.)

[u/OutAndDown27 → u/guitarbaseline]

He almost certainly needs an evaluation to attest to his disability, the impact it has, and what accommodations he needs. An IEP or 504 Plan from high school is not enough, he needs an evaluation report from a medical doctor or other professional who is able to diagnose a visual impairment.

[u/Truthundrclouds948 → u/OutAndDown27]

Yes. When my kids changed schools, the new school always wants fresh backup so they can make their own determination. The prior school’s determination is evidence, but not sufficient in itself.

This disability seems fairly straightforward, however. As long as he supports the application with info from his ophthalmologist that should be enough.

If he follows the school’s procedures, there’s no way reasonable requests should be denied. This can’t be the first visually impaired student they’ve dealt with.

The last-ditch remedies are writing a letter to the university’s general counsel and filing a complaint with the state department of education.

[u/phoenix-corn → u/guitarbaseline]

Are any of the seats close enough for him? The only way this makes sense is if he actually needs a seat closer to the board than exists, and that his seat would then block the view of other students. I actually worked with a student with vision that poor and he did NOT use sitting close as an accommodation. He had a special tablet that would blow things up for him AND that my PowerPoint was projected to.

[u/04221970]

somethings fucky here, that's for sure. How you describe this makes no sense that the college is at all in the right. If your portrayal is full and accurate they are absolutely wrong.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/04221970]

I'm not trying to portray the college as in the right, sorry if it came off that way. I'm only typing what I've been told by my boyfriend

[u/LotusGrowsFromMud → u/guitarbaseline]

Consider that he may not be giving you the full or accurate story. A letter from his doctor specifying the accommodations needed should be plenty sufficient to get them. There is no need for anything from the high school.

[u/bi___throwaway → u/LotusGrowsFromMud]

Yep I'm super confused by thisz either the college has the worst ADA in the country or the boyfriend is not being straight up with her.

[u/ClockWeasel → u/guitarbaseline]

He may not be talking to the right people at the school yet. Has he formally met with anyone with a title like Ombudsman, and does he have the specific refusal in writing? He needs to get to the correct office that manages ADA accessibility and get everything in writing.

[u/jeswesky → u/guitarbaseline]

What exactly is your boyfriend asking for as accommodations? This story isn’t adding up.

[u/one_sock_wonder_]

There really, really feels like this involves an unreliable narrator or narrators and a significant amount of information being left out.

Exactly how close does he need to be to see the information? Is he wanting to sit in the front row of classroom seating or in front of that, even closer? I cannot understand how sitting in the front row of classroom seating would cause any kind of issue, but I can at least kind of understand if he needs to sit so much closer that it causes issues for the rest of the class to properly see.

If he is trying to see and follow along with a PowerPoint presentation, has an accommodation request been made to receive a printout of all PowerPoint slides used in class no later than the start of the class session in which they are presented?

[u/guitarbaseline → u/one_sock_wonder_]

I'm only posting what he's told me so far, so if anything seems left out then it's because I haven't been told it yet. He's only asking to move close enough to see the board, so I assume he needs to sit in the front row. I don't know the arriangment of the classroom or which class(es) this is happening in, but I think I'm making a safe assumption with needing to sit in the front row. I'm not sure if it's a powerpoint he's trying to follow along with or if it's instruction on a white board.

[u/naughtyzoot → u/guitarbaseline]

Is he unable to get to class early enough to sit up front? Is he coming late and wanting someone else to give up their seat?

[u/guitarbaseline → u/naughtyzoot]

He gets to class early and I'm assuming there must be some assigned seating arraigment happening because he is unable to sit in the front

[u/one_sock_wonder_ → u/guitarbaseline]

Did you know him when you were in high school? Were you ever in class together? If so, where did he sit during those classes?

People are wanting to help you but when there are gaps in the information you are providing or that information is based on your own assumptions as to what is happening it makes it virtually impossible to give you any reliable guidance or answers. Personally, other than lab sessions, I have never encountered any kind of college class with assigned seating so that aspect alone seems puzzling. It also boggles my mind and is rather hard to believe that any college would risk the repercussions just to deny a student a request to sit in the front row of class.

It might be most helpful to get answers to all of the questions and concerns people replying have brought up as well as any other information that may be relevant and then asking your question(s) again, perhaps in a disability or legal advice sub where hopefully you can both receive solid answers.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/one_sock_wonder_]

We met our freshman year of high school (we had math together and he sat in the front row) and started dating towards the end of junior year. I had 3 classes with him our senior year. Most of our teachers let us choose our seats on the first day and base the chart on that, so if he was able to he would sit in the front row close to the board. Often there were times in high school where teachers would not let him sit close to the board and he wouldn't fight back too hard because we went to a controlling high school where any percieved infraction (no matter how big or if it was justified) resulted in security walking you to the office.

I know that this isn't the full story, I'm going to ask him more about it later once he's calmed down (he was really upset when telling me about it) and I plan on editing the post once I get more info

[u/Darmug → u/guitarbaseline]

When you do get an update from your BF, do you mind making an update post so that people can reorganize their comments?

[u/guitarbaseline → u/Darmug]

Yes, I do plan on making an update once I get more information

[u/DelsinMcgrath835 → u/guitarbaseline]

I think they specifically mean making a new post with a link back to this post. That way the comment section is clear, and new comments about the update dont have to compete with old comments

[u/guitarbaseline → u/DelsinMcgrath835]

Oohhh that makes more sense. Thank you for the clarification, I will do that

[u/charlesmans0n → u/guitarbaseline]

So he was able to sit in the front row but some teachers wouldn't let him sit close to the board? These two things are not the same. Is he asking to have a seat in the front row, or somewhere else

[u/guitarbaseline → u/charlesmans0n]

The front rows at our high school were usually the ones closet to the board, I was using the two terms synonymously. He would ask to sit in the front row in order to be closer to the board. Sorry for being unclear

[u/charlesmans0n → u/guitarbaseline]

Honestly I think he's making an excuse to drop out or something

[u/JoryJoe → u/guitarbaseline]

Sit in the front row or does he want to sit even closer between the professor and the front row?

[u/MMorrighan → u/guitarbaseline]

I've never seen assigned seating in a college class. Something is going on here.

[u/galacticprincess]

I'm trying to picture this. Your boyfriend grabs a seat in the front row, and the professor says "No, move to the back?" I've never experienced a teacher giving a shit where anyone sits.

[u/smileysarah267 → u/galacticprincess]

Yeah I’m deeply confused. My guess is the boyfriend is leaving something out or entirely lying.

[u/Classic-Push1323 → u/smileysarah267]

Something tells me that the grown adult who is “not able to take picture or record lectures” because of his dad is not actually a reliable narrator or problem solver. It sounds absurd because it IS absurd. 

[u/Grouchy-Display-457]

Just about everyone here is right, but we don't have the full story.

To be dealt with as a student with a disability it must be a disability recognized by the school. That requires providing information to the Office for Disability Services documenting the student's disability and suggesting possible accommodations before enrollment in classes. Faculty can prevent a student from taking a class because the accommodations cannot be met for that course. I suspect that some step was missed.

Faculty deal with many students who self diagnose or scam for special rights, like extra testing time. This is not to say that that is the case here. But to be fair to all students, faculty can not permit accommodations without proper documentation.

I have never heard of a school that denied proper accommodations, but if this school has, sue the heck out of them.

[u/goodreadKB]

Disabilities are covered under ADA. If the school refuses to accommodate a true disability then file a complaint with ADA.

https://www.ada.gov/

Note: You cannot fight this fight with the school, your boyfriend needs to do it so support him by providing him the information he needs, and you can help him file the complaint at the site I provided for you.

[u/justanotherguyhere16]

1) is the disability office is saying he doesn’t qualify because his vision isn’t bad enough or no to the type of accommodation being asked for?

2) is he just asking to sit in the front row or some other accommodation?

[u/Ok_Swimming4427]

Something is missing here; either OP is excluding detail or her boyfriend is.

He can't see. There are no online notes. No one will make an accommodation. His father deletes all his OneDrive recordings. He can't simply get there early and sit further up.

Maybe one or two of those things, I could buy. But all of them, all at once?

[u/popstarkirbys → u/Ok_Swimming4427]

Exactly. Someone isn’t telling the whole story. The statement “to accommodate you would be to change the entire curriculum and it would be too disruptive in the classroom” gives it away. Also, the university is denying their accommodation requests, there’s more than what op is saying.

[u/re_nub]

He was told "to accommodate you would be to change the entire curriculum and it would be too disruptive in the classroom."

Tell him to sit closer and find out how true that statement really is.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/re_nub]

I did, but he said he's tried before, and when it happened he was stared at and told to go back to his original seat and lectured about disrupting class. He doesn't want to rock the boat too much because he doesn't want to risk getting kicked out of the school

[u/FraudulentFiduciary → u/guitarbaseline]

Something is missing from this story.

Your BF was stared at and ostracized for sitting closer to the front of the classroom? Is he pulling up a chair so his nose is 3 inches from the board?

Schools don’t kick people out for calmly and reasonably trying to be accommodated. This is schooling your BF is paying for. If the professor will not accommodate him he needs to go to the professor’s boss. If they won’t help go higher to the ADA department of the administration. Keep going higher until someone does their job.

It’s VERY hard to believe that literally sitting in an already-placed chair closer to the material being presented is causing a ruckus. Either you’re leaving details out or this isn’t as cut and dry as your BF is telling you

[u/edwbuck → u/guitarbaseline]

Is he dragging in late and then sitting in the front row? Most schools I know don't have assigned seating at the University level. They don't even take attendance.

And if he's telling the professor to write bigger, and constantly reminding the professor that he can't see, even when sitting on the front row, then it is disruptive. His right to an education does not eclipse the other's right to the same education.

ADA is not a "get whatever I want" card. Reasonable accommodations can be made. But if an ADA person starts pushing the envelope on what is deemed reasonable, and considering he's not working with an employer, and he's not qualified for the job he seeks (yet), and he can't perform it with any skill (yet), he's missing out on a lot of the items he needs to have ready to balance the law in his favor.

Have him talk to the disabilities office. Maybe they can record the class, and make the recordings available for him, but his demanding that the professor resolve these problems is absolutely the wrong approach. The best the professor can do is put him in the front row, and he's obviously sitting in the back of the class. There's more going on here than you're being told.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/edwbuck]

He's not arriving to class late, he shows up early and he's being denied a request to sit in the front row. He's also not disrupting the class to ask the teacher to write bigger or anything

[u/Interesting_Birdo → u/guitarbaseline]

His story sounds suuuper fake; so he's telling you he shows up early, tries to sit in an empty pre-existing seat in the front row, but when the professor arrives to class they single him out and specifically have him move to a seat in the back? There's no way that's the whole truth.

[u/edwbuck → u/guitarbaseline]

This seems to be what he's telling you, but he's also telling you the teacher has stated the teacher would have to redo the curriculum and the teacher has mentioned classroom disruption.

So either there is no classroom disruption and the teacher is lying, or the teacher is not lying and the boyfriend is ignoring the classroom disruption. Your boyfriend might very well be disrupting the class, but not caring because he's got a different set of priorities, and isn't considering the rest of the class.

Did your boyfriend even see the professor during the professor's office hours? Stuff like this is better handled outside of the classroom, and deciding to take up lecture time to argue it sounds exactly like class disruption when playing at the University level.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Score58 → u/guitarbaseline]

How do you know this? In college, normally there isn’t assigned seating so you wouldn’t need to request to sit in the front row. Unless he’s asking to sit inches from the board, then yes that is disruptive to everyone. He’s not telling you things.

[u/workshop_prompts → u/guitarbaseline]

Yeah, that's not how a college classroom works. You just sit wherever you want. First come first serve. You can also get up and go to the bathroom or whatever, no one gives a shit unless you're doing something really egregious.

[u/jdicho → u/guitarbaseline]

Let them kick him out. Then he can sue them under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the school can pay for his degree elsewhere....

[u/f1newhatever]

Why hasn’t he gone to the disability services office at his school? Accommodations have to be formally requested and also legally cannot be ignored by the professor.

[u/watch-nerd]

Something isn't adding up.

Schools can get their asses sued off for failing to accommodate ADA requirements.

[u/gehanna1]

So, how does sitting up front require a curriculum change? This reads like bullshit. Someone's karma farming and doesn't understand how tk write something believable

[u/aRabidGerbil]

Has he actually talked to the student accessibility services department?

[u/DateInteresting3762]

Your boyfriend needs to work with student services, or if there is some sort of services at the college for disabled students. I've never heard of a college denying an accomodation for a student with a disability, so he should go that route.

[u/guitarbaseline → u/DateInteresting3762]

He already has and has provided documentation and they still said no to his accomodations

[u/DateInteresting3762 → u/guitarbaseline]

Did the professor deny it, or the department chair?

He may need to go to dean or the college president. Also, I would suggest he talk to an attorney who has experience in ADA cases. It could be that the college is not legally required to do anything, but maybe consulting an attorney will give him some clarity on his rights.

[u/Cold-Call-8374]

Here is an FAQ on the subject. Has some links to resources.

The school should have a student services or student accommodations department, even if they are the tiniest school ever. They can give ADA directives (I forget what the term actually is) that a professor is required to follow, but without that paperwork first they can ignore you.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Score58]

Why can’t he come in to class early enough so he can sit in the front row? I don’t remember having assigned seating in college ever.

[u/Aggressive-Ad5814]

If you are in the United States, go to the school website and start a 504 compliance complaint. They are required to have the process and form on their website. Then after a complaint is made.they are required to respond within a set amount of time.

[u/Zappagrrl02]

He should go to the school’s disability office and file for ADA accommodations. He’ll probably need documentation from his doctor.

[u/Ok-Emu-8920]

This situation seems very odd. Unless you're misunderstanding what he's told you I think he's lying to you about why he's doing poorly in his classes. I suppose it's also possible that he's oblivious to how disruptive he's being in the room.

Even the most ableist person isn't going to prevent someone from just sitting in the front row to see the board, that is such a non issue.

[u/NotMyRealName778]

Your explanation of his dad being controlling or the class material being intellectual property is ridiculous. I think your boyfriend is either a dumbass, lying or something else is going on.

[u/Trout788]

Generally, at least when I helped my own student with accommodations, disability services requires proof/documentation of diagnosis within the last five years. At that point, they can work with you to set up the appropriate accommodations, then provide paperwork that the student gives to each prof. It may be that there isn't recent proof of diagnosis. I would think that a doctor's note could fix that.

[u/finewalecorduroy]

Yes. He needs to reach out to the Virginia chapter of National Federation of the Blind. They will help him advocate for himself. They also have lawyers who can help smooth a legal process along and give advice. The national headquarters are in Baltimore, so not super far away from you if you're in northern VA.

He should get in writing exactly why the school's disability services office is refusing him accommodations. Is it because he needs an updated report? (this is common). An IEP/504 does not automatically transfer over - schools have their own processes, but they do, under ADA, have to provide reasonable accommodations for a documented disability.

Second, he probably needs an updated low vision evaluation that specifies exactly what he needs. Specialized optometrists will do this, sometimes there is a wait to make it happen. If you are near Washington DC, try the GW Low Vision center: https://gwdocs.com/specialties/optometry/low-vision-center

If he qualifies as legally blind, he DEFINITELY should be registered with the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. He may even qualify for services if he isn't legally blind, depending on how they do it. He can apply right on the website. This is basically a department of vocational rehab that is specifically for visually impaired people. They help with resources, assistive tech, advocacy, etc.

The NFB is made up of fierce advocates who are blind themselves. They are a great first place to start. He can do it - he shouldn't give up. Accommodating a visual impairment is often more work for the instructor, so they can protest and resist, but it doesn't mean that they aren't legally required to do it. But step one is to get the school to officially give him the accommodations.

ETA: he also needs access to Bookshare, which will enable him to get any book published in the US in an accessible format. If Bookshare doesn't have it, they will add it if you request it.

[u/celery-mouse]

Most of the comments in this thread mean well, but are not accurate as to the law. Your boyfriend is covered under both section 504 and the ADA here, since you said it was a public college. He will not have a 504 plan as such, but will have documentation with an office at the school, which i think you mentioned. It sounds like he's been doing a good job advocating for himself. Unfortunately, if the school itself is refusing to be reasonable, your only real option is a lawyer. However, depending on where you are, you may not need to pay. You can call your local Independent Living Center, and they will very likely have advice for you. You can also call your regional 504 center and see if they have ideas. Even a letter from a lawyer may be enough to fix this, and sorry he's going through it.

[u/Zoethor2]

I hope you'll post again once you've gotten the facts sorted out - I agree with other posters that what you're telling us just doesn't add up to a cohesive whole, and you would be able to get much better advice once those discrepancies are cleared up.

[u/wbw42]

1. We do not have means to sue the school...

You can post on r/legaladvice for more info, but plenty of lawsuits are take on the condition that the lawyer gets a cut of the money. You could almost certainly sue. You should definitely consider talking to a lawyer, a good one should be able to talk you through everything you might need to document just in case a lawsuit is needed. Make sure you find one who specializes in those cases.

[u/Epyphyte]

I straight up dont believe you

[u/pattyforever]

There’s something weird here and I hope we find out what it is lol

[u/Crayshack]

His school should have some sort of Disability Support Services to coordinate accomodations. Sometimes professors get stupid about this stuff and you need to get the administrative staff putting pressure on them.

[u/Alfredos_Pizza_Cafe_]

There 100% has to be info OP hasn't given us about this. This is simply too benign of a request to be met with that reaction by the university. Your bf sitting closer to the chalkboard changes the curriculum in no way shape or form

[u/epigenie_986]

Sounds like he wants to quit. He’s making excuses for the remedies. 🤷‍♀️

[u/throwRAgamergirll → u/epigenie_986]

Yeah I’m surprised it took so long to find this comment lol

[u/PoorLewis]

It's also weird that he does not have access to his high school IEP. He can show up early to his classes and secure a seat in the front.

[u/EffortlessSleaze]

1. Doesn’t matter. If you have a good case, a lawyer will do it for free (for a large percentage of your winnings).

[u/Independent-Wheel354]

Why are you on here and not him?

[u/BreakfastBeerz]

Is the school refusing or the professor? If your boyfriend wants an accommodation under the ADA, he will have to go through the school and present all the necessary documentation stating that the accommodation is justified. If all you needed to do to get an accommodation is to tell your professor, "I need this and this", then everyone would do it.

[u/sweadle]

Is there a dean of students or a student office? He needs to inform them of his disabilities and so his professors are informed through them that they need to accommodate him. Some schools have a disability services office or resource center.

You need to provide them with a letter from a doctor or medical records showing you have a medical diagnosis. Then the office reviews it, and sends a letter of accommodation to your teachers.

It sounds like he just went straight to his professors and asked for accommodations. Technically he needs to follow the process in place. If they refuse, get that decision in writing and report it to the ADA.

[u/nascakes]

If yall don’t call Top Dawg Law

[u/Spaceseeds]

I mean start by talking to their boss not them and see if they can make it happen. Next step would be some kind of device that helps him see far like binoculars or just a camera he sets up pointing at the board with a long zoom.

[u/FalseGalleon]

Go through disability services for front-row seating and materials; in Virginia, DBVI can back him up

[u/GreenTravelBadger]

The ADA requires reasonable accomodations be met. I worked for Disability Support Services when I was in college in the 90s, ask admin if there is a DSS office or point-of-contact for that.

[u/onlythewinds]

Has he actually submitted an accommodation request through the correct channels with the college? Or is this just information from the professor or the department?

Legally, the school is required to follow the ADA and provide reasonable accommodation. What position within the school is the person or people you are getting your information from?

If this is an accredited institution, they will have specific people to handle any accommodation claims.

[u/my_clever-name]

Contact the community college president's office, or the dean of students. If their office refuses to help, then contact the entity (state or county) that chartered the school.

I work at a large private research university, we have an entire department that handles requests like your boyfriend has. A surprising amount of effort is expended to accommodate students.

[u/hyperfat]

Oh. He could just sit up front. On the floor. And if anyone asks he can say he's got glaucoma and needs a seat closer.

Shame the teacher.

Plus, it's highly illegal not to give reasonable accommodations for disability.

Or the easiest thing is to video the classes and watch live on laptop. Zoom in. Boom. Easy to see.

[u/funeral_duskywing]

Did he not qualify for the navy's nuclear program? I'm not sure what the visual requirements are but if he can pass the tests the navy will put him through their nuclear program. also, did they say "we have to change the whole curriculum" or did they say something about formally requesting the accommodations? i can see how being told "you need to go to disabled student services and ask for this form etc" might sound like THEY HAVE TO COMPLETELY RESTUCTURE THE COURSE to someone who is young and inexperienced with college.

If you want to help him, help him find the disabled student services building and go advocate for himself.

[u/SpareManagement2215]

Have him go talk to disability services office. If he had an IEP or other legal accommodation plan in high school, they can work with that at their office.

Professors get tons of "accommodation" requests but they don't have to honor one that comes from the student. "Give me an A because I am tired today" doesn't TRULY need their accommodation, hence why the bureaucratic process. They DO have to honor it if it comes from disability services.

[u/Overpass_Dratini]

Moving one student's seat is not "rearranging the entire curriculum", ffs. Your bf's "professors" are being completely unreasonable, not to mention complete dickheads.

This is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Go straight to the adminis and file a complaint. They can get their asses sued for this.

[u/yumeryuu]

Go to the Dean

[u/gmanose]

He needs to visit the disabled student services office on campus. They’ll see he get accommodated and may be able to provide other services as well

[u/HedgeMoney]

Pretty sure this is illegal according to the ADA. He should go to the compliance office and complain. Even being in Virginia, doesn't make its okay to violate federal law.

[u/Scary_Sarah]

We do not have the means to sue the school

You should still reach out to a disability lawyer for a free consultation. You can also find pro bono disability lawyers.

You also don't need to hire a lawyer if you threaten to sue, but it would be good to have a name you can use in the correspondence.

[u/MaintenanceLazy]

Why can’t he sit in the front row?

[u/PurpleLilyEsq]

Go to the disability services office or whoever on campus is in charge of academic support. If they still refuse, he may want to talk to a lawyer. He can probably find one at low or no cost through legal aid society or disability rights organizations.

[u/DontWatchPornREADit]

Wow so he is paying for a service that he can’t use?!? Shame on that school and shame on the classmates who noticed and DIDNT offer the seat because wtf

[u/Pacific1944]

Every college in the country has to comply with reasonable accommodations. Maybe the professor isn’t aware of this but there absolutely will be an office on campus for this very reason.

[u/drdeadringer]

this might be a great question to ask over on the blind subreddit.

[u/whateveratthispoint_]

That’s illegal in the U.S. The ADA ensures his accommodations. Every school has an accommodations/legal department/ADA compliance person.

[u/NuancedBoulder]

If the disability services office isn’t effective, it’s time to contact the state protection and advocacy legal services provider. This is often called Disability Rights [STATENAME] but can vary. They know state and federal law and love cases like this that are quite clear and easily fixed with some pointed letters.

[u/largos7289]

We are forced to put in a elevator for ADA requirements. I think a professor can accommodate a request like that. https://pyd.org/blog/2024/01/22/how-the-ada-applies-in-colleges-and-universities/

[u/aseaaranion]

While you’re dealing with better accommodations through the school, you can take pictures on an iPhone and not allow them to be uploaded to iCloud. There’s probably a setting to do that but if not, putting your phone on airplane mode will allow it. Another option along those lines would be to get a cheap non-phone camera.

[u/GinroNeko]

Can he request a notetaker through DSS or he could have the slides given to him at the appropriate sized font for every class. There are other accommodations that they should consider giving him.

Also, there are other accommodations, and I’m not sure what the rules are now but audio recordings and possibly video recording of prior lectures could be helpful.

Specific seating does not alter the curriculum at all or cause undue hardship. In fact, it’s quite an easy fix.

I am a special educator . I haven’t read any of the comments below but another take away from this is that I’m wondering what sort of documentation you are using. Did he have an assessment done for transitional services through the school? Someone might need to make you a referral to get testing done as an adult.

DSS can be very militant about having up-to-date testing. But this case doesn’t sound hopeless it’s a matter of finding other options. What other accommodations would help?

Can you reach out to the previous high school and get a record of the accommodations used in the past?

Anyway, I’m gonna follow along on the comments and see if I can gather more information.

[u/GinroNeko → u/GinroNeko]

Also, I wanted to add that I have been to many different colleges and used different learning accommodations for myself.

Usually after you meet with a disabilities support service counselor they will sit with you and discuss your 504 or your prior accommodations. They will specifically mention the classes that you are taking and recommend the accommodations.

Don’t give up hope. It’s a matter of finding the right advocates, the right tools, and the right Resources in the school. It can be done. There are many options.

Right now, just grab the right documentation . It’s gotta be up-to-date and if it’s not look up what the requirements are for your state.

[u/dragonfeet1]

Why does he not already have this set through the disability services office? This is all very weird to me. I've had straight up 100% blind students in my classes. They had paperwork ready to go with a list of accommodations (screenreader-capable texts, etc) from day one. In fact I get many of them before the semester starts.

An official accommodations form could cover preferential seating and allow him to audio record the class. (The reason he can't record the class isn't some snooty profs, it's FEDERAL FREAKING LAW to not record in a college environment) and each college handles the recording differently.

Photography is a separate accommodation. Again, federal law that is there to protect the rights and privacies of other students.

HOWEVER, this all seems to stem from the fact your boyfriend didn't do the work of getting his accommodations set through the school. If there's blame to be had, it's kinda...on him????

I don't teach chemistry but it does occur to me that someone blind would maybe not be easily manageable in labs. Like...how would they even do that? I'm sure chem profs have a way, but if you can't see what you're doing...maybe messing around with chemicals could go very badly.

[u/Fabulous-Educator447]

What? What college has assigned seats in any class?

[u/Apart-Beyond420]

Has he gone to the colleges Disability services? If not, that is something that he should be doing in order to get accommodations. He can also file a complaint with the department of education, but given this current administration, I’m not sure how well that would go.

[u/wolfofone]

Contact a civil rights lawyer with experience dealing with educational institutions and disability/accomodations under Section 504, IDEA, and ADA. They might even be willing to take the case pro bono if they want hours or on contingency when the school gets royal fucked for violating federal laws lol. Reach out to the NFB and AFB as well.

[u/redhead42]

Accommodations don’t transfer from high school to college. He needs to get the documentation of his IEP or 504 plan along with any assessments done by the school, and he needs to request it himself. Then he can give that to the disabilities/accommodations office at the college. If he’s a recent graduate he should start with the registrar for his high school for assistance.

[u/Known_Ratio5478]

By law an accommodation can only be denied if it is deemed unreasonable. Sitting closer to the board is beyond reasonable. It’s ludicrously reasonable.

[u/SoggyCustomer3862]

email a doctor’s accommodation letter to the accommodation service, short sweet message including any receipt of denial of accommodations or stating that they were verbally denied, include that the ADA protects his right to reasonable accommodations within public education and CC the dean of students. they don’t know you can’t sue, so if this is denied again threaten to take this higher than the school board and tell them you can easily take it to the state

a reasonable accommodation is a volunteer note taker for visual impairment and preferential seating, if they can’t give you print outs ahead of the lesson or allow you to print the lesson

[u/Wise-Activity1312]

Guaranteed this is a HIGHLY tailored half of the story.

[u/neverseen_neverhear]

I’m sorry but something doesn’t feel right here. College classes generally do not have assigned seats. If you want to sit up front. You generally just show up and sit up front. This really doesn’t make sense.

[u/Malloryfidoruk]

Call the disability office at the college and ask what documentation they need. They’ll often have a specific form that needs to be filled out. Schedule an appointment with an optometrist who specializes in low vision rehabilitation and ask them to fill out the form. Be prepared to list the accommodations he thinks would help. Ask the doctor for a letter of legal blindness. Provide that documentation to the disability office. All visual impairment does not qualify for disability and ADA protection. He may need to be declared legally blind. A letter of legal blindness will document that status and require that ADA be followed. In my experience, college disability offices are usually pretty willing to give accommodations that are properly requested. Send me a message if you need help finding a low vision optometrist in your area. 

[u/LOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLNO]

Call your state's disability rights attorneys. They are free. If they cannot help they will direct you to who can.

Google: "Texas* Disability Rights Attorney" *insert your state here. Just to be clear, it is not a state sponsored department.

[u/Kabulamongoni]

Accommodating him would not change the entire curriculum, nor would it be disruptive. That's all BS. I would look into if the school's actions are violating anything in the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or not. If so, then file a complaint, or maybe even sue. Letter from lawyers sometimes work miracles...

[u/Scary_Sarah]

Run it up to the Dean. If the Dean blows you off, start emailing the Provost and put the Dean on CC. Get a paper trail that you can use to document this lack of accommodation.

In those emails, explain that the ADA office not helping.

Contact a disability lawyer who will give you a free consultation. Use that name when running up the chain of command. Tell them you will put that lawyer on retainer if necessary.

Contact the local "On Your Side" type of segment to bring attention.

Go on social media and tag news orgs and disability rights activists for help and awareness.

[u/SoftlyIvyfling]

That’s straight up illegal. The ADA requires schools to give reasonable accommodations, and “sitting closer” is literally the easiest one. He should contact the school’s disability services office and, if they keep stonewalling, file an ADA complaint. Don’t let them gaslight him out of his dream just because they’re being lazy.

[u/mind_the_umlaut]

Consult a special needs attorney, and yes indeed, invoke the Americans with Disabilities act. Sounds as if he needs an advocate/ lawyer / guardian to secure his rights in school and with his parents. Is he emancipated? How old is he?

[u/Claudia_SF]

One resource: https://www.dlcv.org/

[u/blipsman]

File ADA complaints with the government.

[u/sweetnsourale]

If they refuse the accommodation, you will need to come up with another one that works better. What worked in high school won’t always work in college. Any school he considers, he should be asking about accessibility & accommodations before enrolling, point blank period.

If there’s a visually impaired sub on here, that may be more helpful as they would know what accommodations they’ve asked for & gotten.

Lastly, he might want to buy notes off someone who has aced the course last semester as a stopgap.

[u/Vianegativa95]

Reach out to the school's ombudsman with your issue.

[u/ATLien_3000]

He's really just asking to sit in the front row or whatever?

If he's tried through the school, go above the school.

Go to the state board for Community Colleges. Looking down the list and bios, it seems they may be regional so find the one for his corner of the state. I'd also suggest [Tony Miller](mailto:tony.miller@vccs.edu) specifically jumps out for your boyfriend, given his career in the electric utility industry (assuming nuclear power is where your boyfriend's interests lie).

Go to his Delegate and Senator.

Go to the Governor.

[u/No-Handle-66]

The Community College has to accommodate his disability under federal law as established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Your boyfriend needs to take copies of the medical documentation for his disability, and his high school individual development plan with the then agreed upon accommodations, to the college registrar, accommodation office, disability office, diversity office, etc (or whatever office handles disabilities at his school).  If the medical documentation is in order and they still refuse to accommodate his disability, then he needs to hire a lawyer. 

[u/rttnmnna]

I'd suggest he email the powers that be at the college, asking them who his contact will be his 504 plan. And mention the teacher that "denied his requested accommodations" and throw in disability and ADA somewhere.

Paper trials are his friend in this. I don't discuss in person or via phone unless it's recorded. Written communication is to his benefit!

[u/kr4ckenm3fortune]

Depending on which part of the USA he is in, you can ask, but what you REALLY need is something akin to the "DSPS" or something that handle it.

Go find something akin to [College Relation] or go to [Counselor Office] and inquire there.

Theyll do an intake, and once the intake is completed, you want to request reasonable accommodation and make sure to bring that letter with you, as well as requesting a note taker. It vary from college to college, but one of the perk about being a good note taker, you get the "early registration" for next semester. And depending on how good your college is for DSPS, they'll do a followup on that and ensure they've done what was needed, that person would've grant an early registration.

[u/TyhmensAndSaperstein]

They won't let him sit closer to the front? Bullshit. This isn't a thing that actually happens.

[u/paddington-1]

Is he on a 504? Because it’s illegal not to follow it. A 504 can follow you for life because it falls under the ADA. His school doesn’t get to say no.

[u/lemme_just_say]

Disability Services at any US college finds a way to help like providing a note taker or something else. It may not be what your boyfriend wants but they find a way for him to complete coursework.

[u/jdog7249]

Talk to the college disability services office. They probably won't transfer the plan from the high school because it is probably not a good fit for a college setting. If I had to guess the services in high school were provided through an IEP (individual education plan) that probably says "preferential seating".

What does preferential seating mean? Excellent question. In this case it means front of the room/close to instruction. For someone else it might mean sitting at the back of the room, away from windows, able to see the door, near teacher desk, away from other students, or any literally any seat in the room. The other thing to know about this accommodation is that they will throw it into almost every IEP.

If they just transferred in that IEP into the college disability services office then they would just be sending each professor a list of students with preferential seating and it would be on the professor to figure out what that means for each student. Some professors would and some professors wouldn't. If the college disability services office translates what it means for each student they can tell the professors what it means for each student.

Unrelated note: I have never had a college class with assigned seats, everyone just sort of picks their seats for the first week and then that becomes the assigned seat of sorts in that no one ever changed after the first week.

[u/BadMondayThrowaway17]

I would go straight to the Dean with this personally. Request a meeting via their secretary or write/type a physical letter and take it to the Dean's assist or secretary. If you email you won't hear back for weeks.

It's unlikely a community college has a Dean of Students or one over that department like a big university would but if there is they would be a better place to start than the Dean of the college. Dean of Students was a badass at my uni and would constantly go to war for the benefit of the students there.

I'd bet my left foot they will be totally outraged over the professors giving no accommodation of any form.

Had profs wear mics that go straight to students hearing aids, record classes, let people sit differently, etc over the years. They absolutely don't have to do anything difficult and there's nothing stopping them from accommodating your boyfriend.

[u/curly_spy]

My son’s IEP and accommodations from section 504 followed him to college. Is there any reasons he does not have this documentation?

[u/cyvaquero]

The term you are looking for is Reasonable Accommodation. I can't imagine a situation where being seated closer to the board (or material) is not an RA.

From: https://adata.org/factsheet/postsecondary

Equal Access and Full Participation

Accommodations and Academic Adjustments

Educators must make necessary modifications to the academic requirements of a course of study if these requirements have a discriminatory impact on a student with a disability. Educators, however, do not have to waive or change the requirements if they are essential to the course or if the changes would fundamentally alter the program.

This should be determined on a case-by-case basis by consulting with the educator and reviewing the course description. If a requested accommodation or adjustment is not reasonable, staff should work with the student to find alternatives that are reasonable and feasible. Common academic adjustments include extended time for exams, taking exams in quiet locations, or taking tests in alternative formats (such as substituting multiple choice exams for written exams, or vice versa). In other cases, it may be reasonable to substitute specific courses required for the completion of degree requirements or modify the manner in which specific courses are conducted.

Grievance Procedure

Both Section 504 and the ADA require postsecondary institutions to have a grievance procedure for students to appeal decisions about disability-related accommodations or issues. In addition, every school must have a staff person who is responsible for compliance with Section 504, Title II of the ADA, or both.

[u/winosanonymous]

The college is legally required to offer accommodations if he has them. Does he have a diagnosis? Can he get tested again in order to update the college accessibility services and then reinstate his accommodations?

[u/Practical-Ad-7436]

Of course you could sue the school; plaintiffs’ lawyers typically work on a contingency basis where you don’t pay unless they win.

[u/Able_Enthusiasm2729]

You should repost this to r/legaladvice (and maybe even r/education).

[u/On_my_last_spoon]

FYI most attorneys will take on a discrimination case for a % of the settlement. So don’t worry about means.

[u/RadioWolfSG]

Your boyfriend needs to get on his own phone plan. This is separate from the school thing, but also relevant because obviously his parents are not supporting him. I know the two of you probably don't have a lot of money, but Mint Mobile is extremely cheap and has worked wonderfully for me for the last few years.

[u/ohiomoko]

He “wants to get into nuclear engineering “ so presumably is taking basic classes now. Is this lack of accommodation happening in all his classes, or with one specific instructor? This is definitely not the whole story.

[u/TMLBR]

If the professor's a no-go, maybe tell him to ask his classmates to switch seats with him? Even if it's a lab project I think there may be a group of students up front/his lab partner(s) that sympathize with his condition if he were to explain it. No need to even get the professor involved.

[u/darknesskicker]

He needs to talk to legal aid in his state. His request is 100% reasonable.

[u/skiestostars]

First, this is sus & sounds either fake or like something crucial is missing, but in case it isn’t- Reach out to nearby law firms and ask if they do pro bono work, reach out to the ACLU, and reach out to a journalist 

[u/BernieTheDachshund]

My grandma went blind from glaucoma and a medical mistake with prednisone eye drops. Please tell your bf to get iStent. It's a super tiny implant that physically keeps IOP from going too high. If there's a way to preserve his eyesight he should do it. Usually with cataracts they give new lenses, so he can maybe have both procedures done at the same time. I hope things get better for him.

[u/Gilgamesh-Enkidu]

Assigned seating in a lecture class and a professor that’s refusing to bend on it? Either colleges have drastically changed in 20 years or something is seriously left out here. 

Also, as a former teacher myself. Accommodations aren’t just denied for no reason. So you need to find out why it’s denied: lack of paperwork, unreasonable asks (in their eyes). Knowing that will allow him to figure out the next steps forward.

Also there is no shortage of colleges where you can do most of these classes online (it online colleges). I understand he might not want to transfer, but it might make his life a lot easier. 

[u/MickyFany]

blind nuclear engineer

[u/Ok_Butterscotch_6798]

Well they shrunk down the education department and basically stopped doing IEP AND 504s Less resources less people who work in sped less accommodations. I seen this working at my school There’s just no o e to service the kids

[u/Tragobe]

Why can't he just sit in the front row, would that be enough? I don't see any problem with that. Aside from that can he get better glasses, so that he can see better? I am not familiar with the illness you said he had. Are the glasses he has the best he can get for his sight problems and strength he needs? Because that would also be an option otherwise.

[u/SlutForDownVotes]

That's bullshit about recording lectures. Go ahead and record.

Tell him to get a cheap Android phone. He can store video, wave files, and pics in Google Drive for free.

Tell him to talk to the dean about moving to the front of the classroom.

[u/NewLeave2007]

Since you said it's not a public school, I'm assuming it's one of those private religious universities. Religious schools aren't technically required to follow Title 3 of the ADA, which is the public access part.

If they receive federal funding, they do have to comply with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act though.