At both the Orientation and the first day of class we were all told to pick a computer and stay in that seat as our work would be on that computer. One day when I was three minutes late I found my seat, at the head of the class, (I always choose the front seat as I have ADD) taken. The class had to come to a halt while both the T.A. And the instructor logged the guy who had taken my seat off and me onto his computer.
I sent an email to both the instructor and the Department Chair stating,
"Sirs, A health issue that affects men of a certain age (I am in my early 50s), makes it all the more helpful that I sit in my usual seat at the front of the class as possible. Not only will this make the potential of my having to exit frequently less bothersome but it does allow me to better follow along without the putting on and taking off of my glasses.
You consideration of this accommodation will be most appreciated."
*Note: One does NOT have to share a diagnosis and when the word "accommodation" is used the matter needs to be referred to the ADA administration office. It was not, it gets much worse.
The response from the Chair of my department was: "It is my understanding that if you arrive with sufficient time before class starts there should be no problem to sit in the seat of your choice. This should accommodate the ingress/egress opportunities, as well as your vision concerns."
I next wrote to the College Director, forwarding the previously mentioned communications and I told her, "Were space (the class was one third full...) limited in the class in question I could understand how this could be a problematic accommodation but as it is not I do not feel that my request is unreasonable nor one that is either achievable or one that cannot be provided."
When that went ignored I went to my Physician to get a note from him. He was very upset that they would invade my privacy over such a small matter and while he did not provide a diagnosis he did state that I had a health issue that made my sitting next to the front of the class an accommodation that they should provide.
Next I went to my Therapist who diagnosed my ADD and he also wrote a letter explaining how sitting in the front of any class helps me keep focus so that I can be successful. I hand delivered these letters to the College Director and the Lead School Chair. They were not happy.
A few week later, after being harassed, I asked my therapist, for a second letter that would explain that I was not being treated properly and the accomodations were proving to be ineffective due to Administrations indifference. He went on to adress my PTSD and other issues and insisted that the college was bound, by law, to better enforce them.
The day before I was to deliver this second letter further explaining my ADA Accommodations the College Director decided that rather than be in receipt of the second letter I should be dismissed as a student. She, in a most transparent way tried to avoid having to further ADA compliance's. She dismissed me not because either of my instructos complained about me, my relationship with them was very special and very productive, she dismissed me saying, "You are just causing us too much inconvenience."
I have sought excellent counsel from a Disability Advocacy Group and I am taking all the copies of the emails (I forwarded my school emails to my home email) to the Arizona Attorney Generals Civil Rights Division very soon.in the mean time I have kept, much to their chagrin. ITT Corporate in Indiana in the loop by faxing parts of my proof to ITT's ADA Administrator. IF the Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division provide me with "The right to file a lawsuit" they are, by state law also to file a "State Vs. ITT Technical Institute Lawsuit". Let's see if they really want this kind of bad press?
Stay Tuned.
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