The Unsympathetic Nature of Some

Post Reply New Topic

I am fighting being institutionalized and it is mainly a few individuals causing the problem. I am a full time mother and full time college student. Up till this semester, that posed no significant issues that I could not overcome until now. I have a teacher who, regardless of how many times I've explained sensory issues and social problems, insists on basically doing exactly what makes me have a total meltdown/shut down. She has no sympathy. She told me I need to "get over" my problem. Everyone else does, I was informed. Really? I didn't know everyone else was autistic/aspie too. Funny how I missed that. I cannot tolerate this much more. I am struggling just to keep it together. I don't know what to do...I am so lost and filled with anxiety and fear. She makes fun of the helps the school has required. She taunted me, along with her aide, in class because I was allowed earphones during tests. She is ignoring any signs of problems and blames it on laziness though my grades show otherwise. It is so painful physically, mentally and emotionally. Though I hate group work, it's gotten to the point that even people who wanted me in their group avoid me. She has managed to make my life a living hell. Worse, this is a 5 day a week class, so every day I face this. I am on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I considered suicide last night. My husband and kids are the only reason I didn't. What can I do before I go crazy?

Report this to the office that handles discrimination complaints. Her behavior violates the Americans With Disabilities Act.

That sounds like harassment, abuse, and discrimination. What she's doing sounds like it could even be considered a hate crime. I'm shocked to hear this is happening to you because you seem like a responsible, motivated, and compassionate person, considering that you're doing a study to help people with ASD.

I think it's imperative that you report this teacher's behavior to the appropriate authority. In most universities, that would be the dean or the department chair. These are the people who have the power to handle the situation in the right way. I would recommend sending an email to the dean and the department chair asking how to officially file a complain about a teacher. You might want to mention that you're being targeted because of a disability and that it has exacerbated certain health problems. You should probably remain vague in this first email because only the people who address these concerns need to know the details. The person who deals with complaints about faculty should take interest in your case, maintain your privacy, and offer you some kind of support. If they fall short of this, you may need to take your complaint to someone in a higher position. You might want to also talk to the person in charge of disability services about this because it clearly sounds like a case of your rights being violated, not to mention that you are being targeted because of your ASD.

In order to be accredited, a university needs to have a way to deal with situations like this one. Unfortunately, this kind of thing is not uncommon. I had a similar (though less severe) experience with a college teacher once. I tried to make a complaint, but I did not know who to speak to and it backfired. Afterwards, I told my dad, a college professor, about it, and he gave me the information above.

Good luck!

I'd tell the head of the college, that this teacher is clearly behaving with sadistic intent. She knows she his causing harm and strife to you, and she keeps behaving in a way that harms you. Only someone who enjoys seeing others suffer, could do this day in and day out. She doesn't belong at a school, she belongs at a psychatrist.

And take care of yourself too. I mean, do whatever you need to do to get through this and keep your sanity. No one deserves to be treated like that.

I find it sick that we're still treated this way, in the year, 2007.

Report the stupid b***h.
This sort of thing makes me very angry. Were it me, I would have smacked her face in by now, regardless of consequences.
I think there is no excuse to treat someone this way, it goes to show that bullies never grow up.

People like that are why I don't have a career. She needs to go down.

Many professors are like this, they'll belittle you and jump on you every time you make a problem.

Sometimes its a really great teacher that wants to push you, other times its just someone who is a hack.

All the times Ive had really insulting teachers, they've been great, just bastards personality wise while teaching.

Report her.
If it wasn't illegal, I'd suggest stabbing her.

sounds like she became a teacher because it was the 'party' major. Its a shame when people with no sense of compassion decide to teach. It sounds like she needs to be reported or perhaps slapped with a discrimination suit.

Others definately have noticed and have begun treating me in a similar manner. She made jokes and comments to the teacher's aide, in front of the class. She has me taking a lab exam in front of the whole class, orally, which is terrifying for me to do and I was unable to properly perform, making it worse. She has no concern for sensory issues such as proximity to others and being touched. We were to choose groups for a lab assignment. People actually refused to be in a group with me because I am "wierd". They don't even know me. I don't speak in class. I don't know any of them. This didn't start until she started saying things and acting differently towards me than the other students. It hurts. Apparently I am not supposed to have feelings because I'm disabled or some dumb thing. She finally got two girls to be in a group with me (as I sit at my desk, head hanging down because I feel so exposed and ashamed). These girls are refusing to pull their weight in the group and it is a group grade, so I am stuck doing it all. When I complained, she made a comment about that being my "thing" to do it alone anyways. That is NOT what the IEP meant. My other teachers were wonderful. My english teacher peer edits my papers personally so I don't have to sit so closely and work within a group of others. He had my try it once and rescued me because it was a disaster. I don't know how to talk in a group like that so I clam and don't say a word. They edit my paper and never can find anything (they say). My teacher does it now because they started making fun of me for being a perfectionist. I'm not turning in crappy work! I do a lot of revisions before I bring in even a rough draft because my grades are important.
I feel like I'm being tormented. Even my one "friend" in the Anatmoy class is no longer. She won't sit by me. She doesn't talk to me. She even laughs at me when the others do. I am so close to dropping out of college all together, but I cannot because my family is counting on me. I have reported her. It did no good. They have the attitude of if your disability interferes, you should drop out. Hmm...slightly illegal, no? I was on the verge of suicide after the last class. I could not cope with the sensory, the emotions, etc. How do I get through this? I'm stuck here till December!