When your college kid is young...

[BlueTaelon]

Do you ever clue the teacher in for online classes that your kiddo is young and just a "hey, just wanted you to know they are only x years old and in x grade if you do see an issue please feel free to contact me"? I know its a very different ball game in college and the teachers don't even have to talk to us but in this case I'm worried because kiddo has Autism and she can come off as a little odd I guess and overly formal, especially in her writing.

[quark]

DS has been taking college classes for 2 years and is now on his 3rd year and no I don't interfere in that regard. What you could do is to contact college disability services and have it documented that she has autism. That way if something comes up, it goes through the proper college channels vs via a parent. Just a thought.

[BlueTaelon]

I am doing that, we have to do that through Voc Rehab here though and that wont be in place until next semester. I had no idea until a few days before school started and it takes a couple months to process the paperwork.

 

 

DS has been taking college classes for 2 years and is now on his 3rd year and no I don't interfere in that regard. What you could do is to contact college disability services and have it documented that she has autism. That way if something comes up, it goes through the proper college channels vs via a parent. Just a thought.

 

[Kassia]

DS has been taking college classes for 2 years and is now on his 3rd year and no I don't interfere in that regard. What you could do is to contact college disability services and have it documented that she has autism. That way if something comes up, it goes through the proper college channels vs via a parent. Just a thought.

 

 

This is perfect advice.  I would not directly contact the instructor.

[Mom22ns]

Do you ever clue the teacher in for online classes that your kiddo is young and just a "hey, just wanted you to know they are only x years old and in x grade if you do see an issue please feel free to contact me"? I know its a very different ball game in college and the teachers don't even have to talk to us but in this case I'm worried because kiddo has Autism and she can come off as a little odd I guess and overly formal, especially in her writing.

 

No, I never did, nor would I. I don't think it is appropriate for you to contact a teacher. She needs to be mature enough to handle that before she takes college classes. 

 

However, my ASD kiddo received accommodations through disability services. They provide a letter he can take to each of his teachers at the beginning of the semester. I would investigate that route. 

[quark]

I am doing that, we have to do that through Voc Rehab here though and that wont be in place until next semester. I had no idea until a few days before school started and it takes a couple months to process the paperwork.

 

I'm sorry it's going to take so long! Is it possible to show a letter from her primary healthcare provider for example? The basic idea is to try to use a verified outside professional authority first. I know some colleges are much more parent friendly in this regard. The problem arises when they are not. DS had one counselor who was very hostile when he saw me standing near DS when DS went for a counselling appointment. I was just there for moral support (he was 11 at the time) and did not plan to ask questions or say anything. At the same college, there is another lady who is very friendly and answered some of my questions when I asked her (I wanted to know if DS should document his color blindness since it wasn't on the list of disabilities to document). She didn't bat an eyelid and understood I was asking because DS was so young. It just depends on each college and each admission person. With profs, though, I have not been involved at all.

 

Good luck!

 

[TechWife]

I am doing that, we have to do that through Voc Rehab here though and that wont be in place until next semester. I had no idea until a few days before school started and it takes a couple months to process the paperwork.

No, it does not. College falls under ADA and they must make it accessible to her now and they can't delay it a semester, that is not a reasonable amount of time. If the college has told you this, they aren't working hard enough to get their job done. If they are insisting upon this, you need to find someone to help her advocate.

[BlueTaelon]

No, it does not. College falls under ADA and they must make it accessible to her now and they can't delay it a semester, that is not a reasonable amount of time. If the college has told you this, they aren't working hard enough to get their job done. If they are insisting upon this, you need to find someone to help her advocate.

 

I'm not particularity worried about it right now as all her classes are online this semester but next semester she wants to take a class thats only offered in person so it will need to be addressed by then.

[G5052]

Do you ever clue the teacher in for online classes that your kiddo is young and just a "hey, just wanted you to know they are only x years old and in x grade if you do see an issue please feel free to contact me"? I know its a very different ball game in college and the teachers don't even have to talk to us but in this case I'm worried because kiddo has Autism and she can come off as a little odd I guess and overly formal, especially in her writing.

 

FWIW, if a parent contacted me in that situation, they'd have to put the request in through the Student Services office. Even for kids under 18, I'm not allowed to talk to parents at all unless it's facilitated through them. There are very strict rules because of FERPA, and there's a whole manual for our state community college system that defines how things are handled.

 

Most likely Student Services would draw up an agreement defining appropriate interactions and require that they be on CC for all emails regarding that student, and I'd have to file a report any time there was a phone call.

 

Unfortunately plenty of issues and some lawsuits came out of this sort of thing, so it's very strict. As a professor, I have to operate within that framework and sign an agreement every year that I understand the rules and will abide by them. If I don't follow the rules, and there's a lawsuit, I likely would lose my job.

[TechWife]

I'm not particularity worried about it right now as all her classes are online this semester but next semester she wants to take a class thats only offered in person so it will need to be addressed by then.

College is very different than high school. Your daughter will need to stay on top of them and make sure they do their job (of course ou can coach her, but she must be the one communicating). In college, the purpose of the ODS is to assure access, not success. To be blunt, they don't care if she succeeds or not. Her success is up to her.

 

If you'd like some tips on documentation or figuring out what to request, I'd be happy to offer some suggestions. Other folks here on the board helped me out and I'd love to return the favor.

 

ETA to clarify. There are professors and individuals at the college who care very much and want your daughter to succeed. However, what they can do to help her is limited, She really has to have the same desire for success as any other student. In public schools the emphasis of the law is on equipping students so they can succeed in their school setting. In college, the law does not require them to ensure the success of every student, they are only legally obligated to accommodate her in a way that allows her the same access that every other student has. If they go beyond the point of that, then run the risk of being accused of favoritism. Each prof who teaches Is different and some will go above and beyond for any student, but that is an individual choice on the part of the prof, not a requirement.

Edited August 27, 2016 by TechWife

[G5052]

There are professors and individuals at the college who care very much and want your daughter to succeed. However, what they can do to help her is limited, She really has to have the same desire for success as any other student. In public schools the emphasis of the law is on equipping students so they can succeed in their school setting. In college, the law does not require them to ensure the success of every student, they are only legally obligated to accommodate her in a way that allows her the same access that every other student has. If they go beyond the point of that, then run the risk of being accused of favoritism. Each prof who teaches Is different and some will go above and beyond for any student, but that is an individual choice on the part of the prof, not a requirement.

 

I actually receive guidance on this. Unfortunately I live in a part of the country where professors are sued not infrequently, so part of my professional development every year is a legal seminar. The handout is always pages long.

 

We're always told that it's fine and expected to respond to any student request for help. What isn't fine is weekly tutoring sessions which could be taken as favoritism. We're told to get them set up with a free tutor in the tutoring center. We're also told not to provide a one-on-one exam review. That should be done in class to provide everyone with that opportunity or recorded so that every student can watch it.

 

If a student asks for more time on an assignment past the due date, more time must either be given to the entire class, or it must be clearly documented in email why more time was given to that student so there is a record.

 

Anyway, that's the environment professors function in. It isn't necessarily that we don't care, but we have to be careful.The state carries a liability policy on me, but they don't provide a lawyer if I go too far. For that I also buy a liability policy on my own.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

Regarding ^  

 

this is why our syllabi are now 11+ pages long. Every policy needs to written in detail and adhered to.  Last semester I had a student complain to my dean because I wouldn't let said student complete English homework in my Stats class. The student would come in and spread out all over the table and read, write, or work on a laptop. The justification - "The syllabus doesn't say anything about not being able to work on other classes." Another instructor was reported  because he asked a student to put her knitting away during lecture as it was distracting to him and a couple of other students who had voiced complaint.

 

As for extending time - I have had to redistribute homework assignments and allow resubmission due to making an exception for one student. Everything literally is all or none.

[MarkT]

Regarding ^  

 

this is why our syllabi are now 11+ pages long. Every policy needs to written in detail and adhered to.  Last semester I had a student complain to my dean because I wouldn't let said student complete English homework in my Stats class. The student would come in and spread out all over the table and read, write, or work on a laptop. The justification - "The syllabus doesn't say anything about not being able to work on other classes." Another instructor was reported  because he asked a student to put her knitting away during lecture as it was distracting to him and a couple of other students who had voiced complaint.

 

As for extending time - I have had to redistribute homework assignments and allow resubmission due to making an exception for one student. Everything literally is all or none.

unbelievable - the admin / deans would have dismissed the students' request without any concern back in my day - in fact the student would have probably got a back ball notation on his/her record

 

higher ed is turning into a joke - we can probably thank the parents that raised these "precious kids" along with our too liberal society policies

[G5052]

higher ed is turning into a joke - we can probably thank the parents that raised these "precious kids" along with our too liberal society policies

 

I would say that it's reflecting society at large. People feel like they have "rights" that people didn't perceive before.

 

One of the professors I know that was sued ended up in that situation because he gave a zero to a student who clearly plagiarized on an English paper. The online tool clearly identified that it was a cut-and-paste from Wikipedia with a few changed words. The student said that the professor's syllabus indicated that cheating would be reported on the student's record (which it was), but not that a zero would be assigned. It actually went to trial because the student refused to settle, and the student won. Thankfully the state covered the professor's lawyer, but he was very shaken and retired not long after that.

 

Now I teach only online for a large state community college, and they're highly regimented. My entire course is standardized. When I get the shell, I customize the due dates, enter my contact information, and post my introduction. I have an area where I can add personal links and files for reference. That's it. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

For autism I probably would.  For age...no.  It is the policy of the local CC where my son goes that they don't share any of his info with anyone but him.  I don't know under what circumstances they make exceptions, but age doesn't seem to be one of them.  Which is fine.  I look at his stuff, and he does not have a problem with it.  I never communicated with the instructor though.

 

 

[EKS]

DS had one counselor who was very hostile when he saw me standing near DS when DS went for a counselling appointment. I was just there for moral support (he was 11 at the time) and did not plan to ask questions or say anything. 

 

I got this too (though my son was 16).  I informed the counselor that my son had requested my presence at the appointment (which he had).  Like you, I just sat there and didn't say a word.

 

The place were I did do a lot of talking was at the intake appointment at the disability services office (again, when my son was 16).  The woman we talked to there didn't seem to have any problem with that.  

[Mom22ns]

The place were I did do a lot of talking was at the intake appointment at the disability services office (again, when my son was 16).  The woman we talked to there didn't seem to have any problem with that.  

 

I met with disability services with my ds too. The guy was very friendly and talked freely with me. He encouraged me to stay involved. 

 

Of course, ds's college sounds nothing like those described by other teachers here. He has received extended time, teachers are more than willing to have tutoring sessions, and he has never had a course syllabus that was more than a couple of pages with very few details about anything.

[BlueTaelon]

I met with disability services with my ds too. The guy was very friendly and talked freely with me. He encouraged me to stay involved. 

 

Of course, ds's college sounds nothing like those described by other teachers here. He has received extended time, teachers are more than willing to have tutoring sessions, and he has never had a course syllabus that was more than a couple of pages with very few details about anything.

 

My dd's doesn't either, maybe they are working at large Universities? Were using a smaller CC with about 6,000 students and the classes themselves only have 30 slots. The syllabus for both her classes is about 2 pages long. Its crazy some of the stuff they are seeing with students suing when they were clearly in the wrong and just being plain rude. I honestly think this semesters college classes are going to be easier then her high school classes so I'm not very worried and spring session is her "fun" classes, its next year when she starts the academics like Eng 101 I will really worry:)

 

I am wondering though, can anyone tell me where would I find out if there's an audio version of the text book available I can buy?

[Mom22ns]

I am wondering though, can anyone tell me where would I find out if there's an audio version of the text book available I can buy?

 

Disability services can tell you and if you get your dd setup with them, they will get it for her if it is available.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

My dd's doesn't either, maybe they are working at large Universities? Were using a smaller CC with about 6,000 students and the classes themselves only have 30 slots. 

I'm at a semi-rural CC with fewer then 5,000 students. Maybe it depends on the state.

[Janeway]

Colleges are required to have disability accommodation now if you request it. Also, chances are, the prof already knows which students are which ages so you do not have to contact the prof to bring it up. I would just step back and say nothing, but watch closely what happens with the class. It may be that you are worried for nothing.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I'm sorry it's going to take so long! Is it possible to show a letter from her primary healthcare provider for example? The basic idea is to try to use a verified outside professional authority first. I know some colleges are much more parent friendly in this regard. The problem arises when they are not. DS had one counselor who was very hostile when he saw me standing near DS when DS went for a counselling appointment. I was just there for moral support (he was 11 at the time) and did not plan to ask questions or say anything. At the same college, there is another lady who is very friendly and answered some of my questions when I asked her (I wanted to know if DS should document his color blindness since it wasn't on the list of disabilities to document). She didn't bat an eyelid and understood I was asking because DS was so young. It just depends on each college and each admission person. With profs, though, I have not been involved at all.

 

Good luck!

 

 

They didn't treat me this way at all.  They were very friendly towards me, and the fact I was there.  I saw adult students with parents so really me being there with a 13 year didn't seem too much at all. 

 

I don't say anymore than I think is necessary though.

[TechWife]

My dd's doesn't either, maybe they are working at large Universities? 

 

DS is at a mid-size regional university with around 15,000 students. He has accommodations set up through the ODS office and gets extended time on tests (the tests have to be sent to the ODS office and he takes them there), a notetaker (he hasn't taken advantage of that yet, but he can if he wants to) and then he also gets a private dorm room.  He provided extensive information about his needs in the form of current, professional evaluations and, for the private room, a letter from one of his physicians. 

 

The entire college population can sign up for free, subject specific tutoring and they will either form a small study group with a tutor or a private tutor if there is only one student requesting the tutoring. They provide a program for students with executive function deficits (my son is enrolled in that program as well) that is also open to other students without requiring them to qualify through ODS. His university has a writing lab and they will help students through any writing assignment for any subject. They have a math lab that is available to any student for help in any math subject, unlimited visits. There are tutor guided study sessions provided 48 hours before a math test, for every math course, every time there is a test. The only thing that has to happen is that the professor has to send a list of review concepts to the math lab office ahead of time. The tutors that work in with executive functions are peer tutors, those that work in the writing lab and math lab are either third year, fourth year or grad students. The tutors that lead the math test tutoring sessions are grad students. 

 

The profs all have office hours that are open to all of their students. If a student needs an appointment outside of the posted hours (if they have a conflict with another class or work) that is allowable, but what is discouraged is the professor spending more time with one student and not providing the same amount of accessible time to the other students. For example, if a prof posts eight hours each week that are always available for all students, they cannot then commit to spending ten hours outside the posted hours with any one student without making the additional two hours available to everyone else (and having time to announce the additional hours to make them available to everyone). 

 

So really, it isn't that the tutoring isn't available on ds' campus, tutoring is abundantly available for the asking. It's that the tutoring is equally available to everyone. Only the true accommodations that level the playing field, so to speak, are the ones that he has to get approved through ODS and they aren't available to students unless they present the appropriate documentation and have a written accommodation plan. 

[BlueTaelon]

Wow, the school sounds awesome! I wish they had that level of support when I went to college.

[TechWife]

Wow, the school sounds awesome! I wish they had that level of support when I went to college.

 

I know! We are very impressed with how much thought and the amount of resources they have put into their academic programs. Their honors program and LLC's are equally well thought out. It's also a very reasonably priced place to attend college. This is why I always encourage people to check out their regional universities!

[Mom22ns]

Wow, the school sounds awesome! I wish they had that level of support when I went to college.

 

Ds's school offers all of that too and his prof's have all been so helpful! I'm amazed and although ds doesn't use the accommodations the school has offered, the level of support has still been fantastic. 

 

If support like that was available when I was in college, I was never aware of it.

[Guest]

So really, it isn't that the tutoring isn't available on ds' campus, tutoring is abundantly available for the asking. It's that the tutoring is equally available to everyone. Only the true accommodations that level the playing field, so to speak, are the ones that he has to get approved through ODS and they aren't available to students unless they present the appropriate documentation and have a written accommodation plan.

My son at state U has similar. Its a relief, as only students in the minority admission program and those in math below calc had tutoring freely available when he was a freshman. Many students were repeating courses as the profs just couldnt handle the volume of questions, and the students werent all able to hire tutors. And in their defense, the problem was the state shorting the school districts during the recession..no honors classes in high school, and gen ed full inclusion math classes too shallow to prepare for calc. meant that bright students from nonwealthy districts had lots of gaps which were forcing them to repeat freshman courses to catch up. Edited August 28, 2016 by Heigh Ho

[Bluegoat]

Do you ever clue the teacher in for online classes that your kiddo is young and just a "hey, just wanted you to know they are only x years old and in x grade if you do see an issue please feel free to contact me"? I know its a very different ball game in college and the teachers don't even have to talk to us but in this case I'm worried because kiddo has Autism and she can come off as a little odd I guess and overly formal, especially in her writing.

 

I think it would depend on how young the student was.  I probably would not for a 15 or 16 year old.  I would have more contact with a 10 or 12 year old.

 

My friend had a young girl come to do a tour of his department last year, a student who would have been 13 when she started.  Her parents came with her and were much more involved than is usual with students.  Normally that wouldn't have been seen as ideal, but under those circumstances everyone seemed to think it was best that there was more communication, even for talking about things like whether there could be class content that would be a problem.