Accessibility services have become an increasingly essential aspect of the exam process, giving students a platform to voice their educational needs. However, students who request academic accommodations often face prejudice and harassment from those denying the reality of their supplementary needs. This is true for Bridget Stanton, a student who was persecuted for bringing her emotional support cheat sheet to her stats exam.
“Universal accommodations, my ass!” said Stanton, visibly distressed from the upsetting ordeal of the exam moderator trying to take her precious sheet from her. “So it’s ok for some people to take the exam in another room or for blind kids to bring a dog everywhere, but as soon as I bring in my 4-page-long, fully comprehensive study guide with all of the equations and formulas, everyone has something to say.”
Stanton suffers from a rare condition that causes her to forget a class’s contents unless she spends tens of minutes, sometimes hours going over the material. When a member of The Boundary staff asked how this was different from studying, they were promptly let go for their discriminatory behaviour.
After this kerfuffle, Stanton’s emotional support cheat sheet was put down (shredded). Going forward, UofT has elected to remove all accessibility services, including all service animals, deeming them to be “too much trouble.” Stanton dreams that one day the school will become more tolerant of her condition and stop ignoring the students who truly need their support.