Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Noah Weinberger
Professor Crow
Tuesday, November 15, 2022


Dear Professor Crow.
Together with my mother, and on the advice of my therapist I am officially requesting a delayed course drop for ANAT 100. I am a first-year student at Queen's University with an ASD diagnosis and a complex IEP. Like many students with ASD, I have a severe executive function disability and elevated stress and anxiety. This means that while it may seem obvious to most students how to navigate the back end of the online program, I struggled with how to understand and navigate many aspects of the online interface. For example, in the first set of online discussion forums, I was so preoccupied with writing meaningful posts, I missed that the forum was a place for an exchange of ideas. Until I received teacher feedback, I never realized that I had misunderstood the task and essentially the goal. Further, I missed many of the online reading posts because I did not realize that a separate link connected me with the essential course curriculum. I, therefore, didn??t connect many assignments to the course material as a whole.

Of course, I have been managing this my entire education and thought I was prepared with appropriate support in place. Historically my academic success has been dependent on having the most appropriate and experienced support teachers inside and outside school. At the beginning of the year, we thought we had the right person in a place whose mandate was to ensure that I didn't miss material, that all assignments were submitted in a timely manner, that I answer questions thoroughly and use only the most sensitive language, and that I manage my time efficiently. Unfortunately, this new university-level coach did not work out. Only when my mother found me a new coach who was more familiar with online university learning, and my first set of grades returned, did we realize how many of the curricular goals I had missed. At this point in time, the workload across all courses is just too much for me. I need to work diligently to catch up and finish the term in good standing. In order to do this, while successfully managing my anxiety, I feel strongly that I need to reduce my course load.


This first term has presented numerous challenges. I know that stumbling a bit in the first semester is understandable and in some cases predictable, and yet I find myself struggling too hard. Unfortunately, what is obvious to many remains obscure to me especially when my anxiety is elevated. My first set of grades does not reflect my commitment to school or my scholastic ability. I am learning how to be a Queen's student and am thankfully moving forward. Nevertheless, it is clear to me and those supporting me that Anatomy 100 is too much of a stretch at this time. I struggle with it the most. The memory heavy curriculum and evaluation style creates the most anxiety and leaves me heavily with the feeling of being overwhelmed.

As you may be aware, many university students on the Autism Spectrum are overwhelmed and intimidated by the challenges of completing an undergraduate degree. I am fully committed and have every intention of applying to law school when I finish this degree. I hope you are willing to grant me a delayed withdrawal so that my GPA and my transcript are not adversely affected by my first-term difficulties. I am confident that with time and with my new appropriate help I will regain my footing.

Attached is a medical note from my psychiatrist to help you better understand the complexity of my learning profile and my history of success via support.

With appreciation, I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Noah Weinberger (Student 20369269)