26-03-2025
How the Disabilities Act Handicaps Students
Jillian Lederman's piece on required accommodation for learning disabilities was an interesting exposé of a common ritual in higher education ('Disabilities Act Becomes a License to Cheat,' op-ed, March 21). The process occurs at the beginning of each semester, with students presenting letters from a campus office defining required accommodation. As a professor, I've gotten many of these letters—and most of the accommodations were minor and fair.
But Ms. Lederman is correct about some students gaming the system. I once was presented a letter that required the student to have 1½ times the normal examination time. Yet in that particular course I knew the room remained empty for the next class period, and so I always gave any student who wanted it extra time. I explained to the student that I couldn't accommodate him as the examination time was unlimited. He claimed that was grossly unfair and that I was required to limit the rest of the class to a single period and give him the extra time.
