Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Throughout the term, I was balancing both a learning disability and major depressive disorder. The latter made it difficult to attend classes in a timely manner, while the former made it difficult to pay attention when I did, as well as hampering my ability to study effectively. Furthermore, I was not able to get my medications set up for Canada in time, as I was living in California before attending university. I had decided to commit to Canadian university fairly late, leaving little time to make the necessary arrangements. This inability to access medication significantly worsened the symptoms of ADHD and depression, impacting my ability to attend and focus in class.

I attempted to self-advocate and find a therapist on the Queen’s University campus. I attended my first meeting with Anne Douglas on October 3rd, 2025. Additionally, I consulted academic coach Sarah De La Roche for academic and ADHD support. However, I was only able to set up a solid support system for myself in the middle of the term, leading to missing lectures and learning opportunities, as well as poor and missing coursework near the start of the term.

By the time I had my first meeting with a therapist and was able to plan a course of action regarding my ADHD and depression, it was already fairly late in the term. As therapy requires time to be effective, many of my symptoms could not be managed in a timely fashion, and it was difficult to establish a truly effective support system. On top of this, not having access to prescribed medication during my time at Queen’s University made it extremely difficult to focus, as well as attend classes. Additional information can be obtained from my psychiatrist upon request if the administration has further questions about the details of my medications or diagnoses.

Given these extenuating circumstances, I respectfully request the late drop of my classes for the Fall term of 2025. This would allow for my academic record to reflect the challenges I faced during the term. Since this time, I have relocated to California and have worked closely with my psychiatrist to develop an academic plan that works with my needs.

Attached to this letter is an official diagnosis from my psychiatrist, Dr. Ramez Ghanbari, at Mindpath Health Clinic in Riverside, California. Contact information is provided for reference below.

Mindpath Health Riverside, Dr. Ramez Ghanbari <riverside@mindpath.com>
Sarah De La Roche <s.wearelearning@gmail.com>
Anne Douglas <yp24@queensu.ca>