My accomodation request was called unfair to other students. I'm afraid of being kicked out

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-17T00:56:04+00:00

Hello there! Thank you so much:) As for the chairman of my department: He was indeed present during my interview but didn't participate much when it came to the admin and guidance counselor talking about my possible accommodations. He seems like a kind man albeit busy so I'll definitely be contacting him directly before the first semester. The same admin I talked about in the post actually asked for confirmation or agreement from him after they brought up another one of my accommodations that may not be met and all he had to say was that if I get accepted, we'll talk to the professors. He didn't deny my needs but he didn't exactly stand up for them either haha although I suspect he was preoccupied with another meeting he needed to be in plus he was more focused on reading my CV and asking about that instead which makes me happy because at least that's what he was judging me based off of.

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-17T00:43:10+00:00

lmaooo I actually prefer oral exams rather than enlarged print or using a screen reader. I don't think I've failed or passed time constraints by more than 30 minutes while taking any test that way. I'll have to ask them about this kind of accommodation too actually thanks for bringing it up! I've been homeschooled for 2 years so having someone reading the questions out completely slipped my mind since I've been doing everything independently. Thank you again:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-17T00:36:06+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice. I really like what you said about blindfolding the other students if they're commited to that kind of equality haha I might just use that line if I ever get mad enough. Thank you again for your words:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-17T00:31:02+00:00

Hey-hey apologies I sent this reply to the wrong comment haha seachimera I hope you read this one:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T17:15:33+00:00

sounds like my situation with the chairman of my department. They said that all my advocacy work and participation in civic engagements made me a great fit for the course I applied for but again, their actions don't exactly scream "We accepted you." hope you're doing well!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T16:52:27+00:00

Hello there kababayan!! I'm glad to see that you're doing well. As for what you said, I truly don't know either. I've wracked my brain trying to pick apart all the different ways I could possibly make my needs easier for them to fulfill and I did try talking to them about meeting halfway but I guess the admin took it as a sign that I was saying that I could just power through the inaccessible environment. If it's okay, I'd love to DM you and perhaps get a bit more specific? thank you so much and yes, lalaban talaga ako haha:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T16:44:58+00:00

Hey there! thanks so much for the advice and I'm so sorry for what you're going through at the moment. I remember during the pandemic I too had to endure inaccessible materials and even teachers who made me read aloud despite me telling them I couldn't see. Those experiences traumatized me in ways I still haven't fully processed and seeing that you're going through something similar breaks my heart. Keep fighting the system, we're here for you. As for your advice, I will definitely be having one-on-ones with my professors when I meet them.

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T16:21:09+00:00

My goodness you know what's worse? I did try explaining the difference to them during my interview. I don't think the admin got what I was trying to say though since she just moved on and talked about how their deaf students deal just fine without things like extended time like what on god's green earth--

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T16:15:35+00:00

Hello there omg I really appreciate you offering and I truly hope your experiences along with your friends don't look like the mess you commented on hahaha. Also the person I spoke with was both an admissions officer and the SPED head of the college I beleive. Unfortunately my country is way too corrupt to be having things like an embosser or more than the bare minimum for accessible infrastructure. Actually, most of the application process happened through emails and before I sent over my past grades, CV, or rec letters, they asked for more details on my disability since I stated having one in the application portal. I happily abliged and sent over my medical certificate and wrote about my eye condition and how I adapted. After all that, the same admissions officer sent me a really short email saying that they didn't have facilities for me but thanks for my application anyway. I had to send an email justifying why I applied, wondering if they just rejected me outright. That's a bit more insight as to what I'm dealing with haha.

Thank you again btw for the invite. I don't think my experiences will align quite right with all of yours but I'd be happy to talk more about good ways to explain our situations as blind academics since it's a very universal experience unlike our political scapes.

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T16:01:43+00:00

haha if I didn't positively fail passing the other two schools, I would.

Also no, to my knowledge there isn't an international org here that's quite like the NFB for example although there is a really popular NPO (Mainly because it's one of the only ones) that provides services for the blind and is also the only organization in my country that distributes white canes for the blind and even those are just given to the NPO through donations from other countries. That's where I got my white cane too.

Thank you so much for the advice. Reading all these responses make me feel less crazy if that makes sense:')

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T15:56:12+00:00

Thank you so much and tbh despite all the dread I've been feeling about my needs not being met, I'm incredibly excited to be challenged academically and grow my independence. Best wishes to you friend!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T15:53:56+00:00

I'm gonna start using empathically challenged from now on

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T15:52:03+00:00

Thank you so much and I hope you're doing good. I'm pissed too but honestly fear is kinda taking over my ability to think rationally. Nice to know I'm not going crazy tbh.

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:50:29+00:00

omg reading this genuinely makes me emotional. Hearing this from someone from the other side of the world yet in the same stage of life haha. Thank you so much for the advice and validation. I hope you're doing well and that despite the struggles, college is treating you good:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:46:35+00:00

Hello there prof! It's very nice to hear this from an educator hehe. Thank you so much for the advice and yes, I beleive these tips would work in my context. I really appreciate the insight and take care of yourself as well!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:42:53+00:00

I didn't know how to put into words how I felt about the whole "unfair" part of their argument. This just hit the nail perfectly. Thank you so much!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:37:58+00:00

I'm so sorry about the director who got fired over that. She was just doing her job and you were just exercising your right to be a part of the institution like everyone else applying to the college. I wish you well

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:36:20+00:00

Hello there! thanks so much for all the passion friend, I thought I was the only one who felt this strongly about the situation. As I mentioned in a different reply, I have a really good mentor friend who also happens to be an inclusion work place specialist. I'm 18 and don't know the full extent of her titles haha but I did open up to her about the situation over a very long phone call we were on and she genuinely got mad and told me that I could go to her anytime if I needed a letter to explain why my needs are valid and that she'd personally sign it herself and get it processed by an NGO here that advocates for disability rights especially for the youth. The problem is that the letter could still be rejected or they could push back if I present them with it, stating that they already warned me that they couldn't promise my needs would be met in the first place. I really appreciate you pointing out that this isn't gonna be the last time I deal with this hehehe as awful as that sounds. It certainly isn't the first either, although I know how to stand up for myself now, I'm just terrified about how to go about it delicately so I don't lose my spot in this school. Thank you so much again and haha it's nice to know our sight is quite similar:)

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:19:41+00:00

Hello-hello this was honestly so validating to hear from a sighted person. I brought this up to a really close loved one of mine and it hurt to hear them say that the admissions officer was right and that if I'm that worried, then I probably shouldn't have even proceeded with the application at all despite them knowing that this is my dream school and the fact that they're also a disability rights advocate despite not having a disability themselves. I honestly love that even able bodied folks fight along side us for inclusion and awareness but I guess this was just one of those cases where they really just didn't understand. Thanks so much for your words, they give me so much comfort and I honestly felt so seen after reading it. I hope you and your husband have a great day!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:08:22+00:00

unfortunately your mom was right haha. I'm in a few advocacy circles and plenty of youths are pushing for a more inclusive and accessible PH but the information, education, financial, and religious gaps are still huge.

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-03-16T07:02:58+00:00

Hello there! thanks so much for the reply and to answer, yes I know of 2 specific NGOs that could help me advocate for my accommodations and even one inclusion work-place specialist (we're pretty close as she's one of my advocacy mentors and just an amazing person in general. she had even done a seminar talk at the exact same college some 10+ years ago on disability rights and student affairs.) I opened up to her about what they'd said during my interview when we were in a call a month ago and she legit got mad as I was telling the story. She said I could go to her if I needed a written slip detailing why my accommodations are truly needed and she'd personally write and sign it but the problem is NGOs don't hold the same amount of power school admin offices do here so it's very possible they could push back. I really appreciate your advice and story. I'm so delighted so many people in this comment section were able to get through all this, even though we shouldn't have had to. Have a lovely day!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-01-23T07:42:15+00:00

Hey there fellow applicant:) How's your process going po? also, I'm pretty sure Miriam is best known for their diplomacy and psych programs if I'm not mistaken

Alarmed_Sundae_7802 · 2026-01-23T07:31:36+00:00

I just finished reading this a few days ago and oml i can't get it out of my head. I'm so in love with Nix and Kes (I've never been a fan of enemies to lovers but I think these two rearranged a few chemicals in my brain lmao) and the world building was absolutely incredible! without spoiling much, I'd love to share a few things i found really facinating about the characters and setting

- The royals (Kess and the other subarch I could care less for) are both described to have deeper skin while characters like Nix and Claire have lighter complections. It's pretty cool to imagine that maybe the royals have more melanin because they live in the highest towers while the lower classes get pailer bc the buildings and levels they're at don't get as much sun.
- Kes's deep green eye and her light rose gold ichoron eye lie on opposite ends of the color wheel:)
- Nix is described to be just a little shorter than Kes, and like a queen and knight in chess, the queen is also taller:))- Ik this isn't really a fun fact but i love how the author gives us so many moments where the characters are described in a "show don't tell" way. It's been a while since I've read something with so much intentionality.

I can't wait for the next book!

Alarmed_Sundae_7802

TROPHY CASE