Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

I am appealing for A Credit Standing in MATH126 (Fall-Winter 2014/2015) and ECON110 (Fall-Winter 2014/2015). The reason for my appeal is because I was not accommodated for my disability. I initially appealed for a credit standing in this course in 2015 but was denied as I was in the process of being assessed for a disability and did not have adequate documentation at the time.

Timeline

The circumstances surrounding my academic performance began to develop in October 2014. The academic pressures were significantly more difficult than what I had faced in high school, and this led to severe side effects which I struggled to comprehend. I was typically used to being allowed to have extra time for assessments and being given some flexibility with assignments in high school. However, while at Queen's, the professors at the time refused to accommodate me as I did not have proper documentation to do so. It is also my understanding that I was eligible for interim accommodations which I was not told about nor was I offered when I appealed the course at the time.

During this period of difficulty, I had been assessed by the Regional Assessment and Resource Centre (RARC) for a learning disability. The assessment was due to poor academic performance in specific academic courses in the 2014-2015 academic year. Initially, I went to the assessment centre believing I might have had a learning disability in math. I also submitted an appeal on the basis that I may have a learning disability in math. This was out of fear that if I did not receive accommodations, I would be required to withdraw from my program. However, my appeal was denied as the assessment was not yet complete and I thus could not provide documentation.

The result of the assessment in 2015 was that I had a neurobiological disorder. I had been informed that symptoms of the disorder were present since elementary school, but never formally addressed. I learned that it had considerably impacted my ability to learn effectively, to complete academic assignments on time and to perform some day-to-day activities.

I was also informed that a combination of behaviour therapy, academic accommodation and medication should be considered and implemented if I hoped for my academic performance to improve. Lastly, I was told that I had significant anxiety as a result of the disorder. Throughout the months of November and December of 2015, I had become registered with Student Accessibility Services and was given access to the Adaptive Technology Center. I had also been given a smart pen for note taking purposes. I was prescribed medication for the disability as well in later months.

Since receiving these accommodations, I have had to work diligently with doctors to ensure I was given a treatment that worked for me. While it was initially challenging to find the right treatment, I now have a much better grasp of my learning needs. In addition, I wholeheartedly believe that if I had been granted accommodations by either my professors at the time or by QSAS, I would have been much better off in the course and I would have received a higher grade.

You may be asking why I am appealing these grades after such a long period of time has gone by. This is both a fair and valid question. There are a few reasons for this. First, as someone with a disability it was incredibly difficult to pass the classes I had at the time and drafting this appeal would have risked the success of my degree. Spending the mental energy drafting this appeal would have caused me to fall even further behind my classes. I also felt dismissed and demoralized after being denied the first time and I decided to move on to complete my degree. I have now returned to take a Certificate in French and I think now is an appropriate time to deal with this situation, where I am more capable to cope with my disability. I also may have future ambitions to return for another program and I think it is unfair that these grades hold me back from achieving my goals.

Lastly, in 2019 until recently, I pursued a Master of Industrial Relations under the Faculty of Arts and Science. During this time, I sought to be accommodated in a similar fashion to how I had been accommodated in my undergraduate degree (after I received my accommodations). To my shock and surprise, I was unable to access Mitchell Hall to perform my exams as a graduate student. This was extremely difficult for me as I was asked complete my exam in a hallway with my classmates nearby. The setting was extremely disruptive and embarrassing for someone with a disability to be outed like that among my classmates. The only other option that I was given was to perform the exam in the same room as my classmates, which I tried but didn't meet my needs, and was quite humiliating.

Ultimately, I tried appeal the exam in 2019/2020 so that I could access Mitchell Hall, which met my accommodation needs to my surprise, my department heads refused the requests of both QSAS, and a Human Rights Office (Nilani Loganathan and the VP Stephanie Simpson) grant my appeal and allow me to re-write my exam in an accommodated setting. Later, the Graduate Department (Associate Dean) had to get involved and as the departments policy was against the Human Rights Code. The Associate Dean then allowed me to redo my exam in an accommodated setting. The Associate Dean also made it clear that all graduate students may use Mitchell Hall in the future.

This troubling experience made me aware that Queen's University still has some work to do in terms of accommodating students. I feel compelled to appeal for a Credit Standing MATH126 and ECON110 because it's clear that I should have been given more consideration as a student who was undergoing testing for a learning disability. My math and econ professors at the time could have been more understanding towards my situation. Had I known I had a disability, I certainly would have requested accommodations. I do not wish for other students to go through the same situation that I went through. I am using my experiences to be more successful in the future. Aside from my appeal for these courses, one of my wishes is that the university make it mandatory for departments to follow the recommendation of the Human Rights Office.