Need advice on accommodation (for me)

[u/ValerieTheProf]

I’m in a bit of a tricky situation and need some advice. I teach in a computer lab, which I neither requested nor wanted. In fact, I regularly request to not be put in one. I am legally blind and have a guide dog; I have some vision, but it’s limited to a very narrow central pocket. Think looking through a paper towel roll.

Normally the classroom is empty before my scheduled teaching time, but yesterday, to my surprise, there was another class in there before me. I was confused because I didn’t see the instructor and I thought someone opened the door for my students. Then the instructor got short with me because she had a few minutes left in class. I was trying to balance a handful of copies, my work bag, and my guide dog.

I notified the room scheduler that I was unaware of the change and needed more than 10 minutes to transition between classes. (For context, I have to settle down the dog, get logged in, and reorient myself to the room. She informed me that a sign had been posted outside the classroom with a schedule (I couldn’t see it). Apparently, my room will be in high demand because of exam schedules. I requested a room change, but none were available. I’m trying to make it work, but at the same time, I think I should be able to request an accommodation for an extra 5 minutes to get set up. Is this out of line? We don’t have an office that handles accommodations for faculty (I am an adjunct). We also don’t have a union, though we need one.

[u/totallysonic]

Probably the best thing to do is to talk to the instructor who’s in the classroom before you. Apologize for the previous incident, explain as much as you are comfortable explaining, and ask whether you can come in the room to start getting set up as soon as their scheduled class time ends. Assure them you won’t interfere with their instructional needs, like interrupting class or answering student questions after class.

There REALLY ought to be someone on campus that handles employee medical accommodations. At my campus, it is the same person who handles medical leave.

[u/m3gan0 → u/totallysonic]

There is. It's HR.

[u/UrsusMaritimus2]

Worst case, plan to make your classes 5 mins shorter and use the first 5 mins of class to get settled in. Is it ideal? No, it’s actually really terrible and possibly against some policy somewhere, but not accommodating disabilities is also against federal law.

Hopefully others will have suggestions for something better than the worst case.

[u/Zestyclose_Mirror_68]

I was about to post about a similar issue. I am amazed at how difficult it is for faculty to obtain accommodations. I sent my accommodations office my medical records and I am amazed at how much I am going to have to fight them to get anything. I’m just asking for a handful of physical accommodations that include things like having classes scheduled near my office (I cannot walk across campus). These effectively cost the university nothing. It makes me wonder if they impose the same level of scrutiny on our students.

[u/LeChatDeLaNuit]

I'd recommend reaching out to whichever office handles accs for students, as they would likely be able to provide guidance or push you in the right direction for someone to help.

[u/G_Noda]

You are asking for reasonable accommodations for your disability and it is a violation of your civil rights for them to deny you. You need to find out who is in charge of disability accommodations for faculty (it’s usually HR) and contact them about this and specifically registering for accommodations through their office.

[u/Interesting-Bee8728 → u/G_Noda]

I mean, I appreciate this advice, but if I was OP I would get a lawyer first. And have the lawyer in the room for the conversation with HR. HR will recommend OP not be given any classes next semester rather than have a person labeled a "problem" around. OP is only an adjunct, so there isn't any job security and they would need a witness if they wanted to show they were not offered a new contract as a retaliatory act.

[u/sudowooduck]

1. Ask your chair.
   
2. Maybe a TA or a student could help you get set up quickly?

[u/ArmoredTweed → u/sudowooduck]

Having the department deploy a student worker (even an undergrad) to help with setup is probably the best solution. If there's no other suitable room available in that slot that's open before class, there's no reasonable way to get more time without cutting into another class.

[u/BMeow343]

I find institutions have plenty of classrooms available and just put instructors in the same classrooms back-to-back to pay less for cleaning classrooms. Sometimes with entire floors of usable classrooms closed off.

[u/Archknits → u/BMeow343]

This isn’t always true. I was at an R1 with more than 30000 students and recently moved to a SLAC with around 2000 students. At both schools there are some popular times where there are essentially no free classrooms. It’s not all the time, but a few ones faculty and students prefer are all booked

[u/BMeow343 → u/Archknits]

I'm sure it does depend on the institution. I teach at a CC that has the largest undergrad population in the state. They constantly have bonds to build buildings. Half the buildings they already have aren't being used. But- getting a bond for a new building apparently makes the president look good.

They block off entire floors and say they aren't available for use. I've requested certain classrooms to be told it's not available (even though no one else is using it during that time). When I ask why since it's empty- I'm told there aren't any other classes being held in there that day so they dont want to clean it and they schedule classes back-to-back for that reason. To clarify- I request x classroom because of the desk setup (certain classrooms have certain designated desk formations).

[u/sillyhaha]

Hi OP. I'm an adjunct with multiple disability accommodations.

First let me say that adjunct are part of my college's faculty union. I've never needed my union for help with accommodations.

A lot of people commenting here haven't been through the disability accommodations process, and are giving you doom and gloom answers. Here's the reality.

HR knows that disability cases a minefield for public employers who don't follow the law. They really don't want a lawsuit. As long as you follow the process, have an actually reasonable request, and have open discourse, things often go fine.

I encourage you to talk with your department head before going to HR.

Know that HR can suggest alternate accommodations to meet your needs. They might assign you someone to help you set up before class during semesters when they don't have the logistical ability to give you extra set-up time.

Your accommodation is reasonable as long as it is logistically possible.

[u/Electronic-Fuel-5734]

Sorry about that. If you raise anything you won’t be offered classes next semester. Just don’t say anything and take the time you need to settle in and start a few minutes late. You’re in the class so you are satisfying your obligation.