Is it fair to expect high grades when paying for college?

[vwlizard]

@VirginiaBelle

It seems a little absurd to me to require somebody with executive functioning disability to have to notify a professor in advance to take advantage of his accommodations when that sort of notification deadline is something that is exceedingly difficult for this disability and is the sort of thing that needs to be accommodated. I would want an explanation for that and see if there’s some sort of work around given the missed assignments, etc..

This is college and not high school. While high schools are required to provide a certain level of support for EF, colleges are not. Their threshold is that accommodations should not change the course structure or material. And they certainly aren’t going to give a parent an explanation even with FERPA (which would just allow the to talk to a parent)

@SJ2727

My kid already has to do this in high school, fyi. And for some accommodations it can’t be “waived”, example if an accommodation is to be able to take tests in a quiet room this has to be set up in advance with the disability center to ensure space and a proctor.

Testing accommodations do not change the content or structure of the course. Not turning in required assignments does. Disability offices and what they offer vary by school. It is up to the applicant to do their research.

@ECCA2026

Schools do not get to say that is not how we do it if the accommodations they offer are not effective and the alternatives are reasonable. That is not how disability law works

That’s not entirely correct. While it is correct for high schools, universities determine eligibility and reasonableness based on their own criteria.

@VirginiaBelle

Turn things in on time. Don’t miss assignments. The EF coach needs to put enough guard rails/safety nets/study plans/reminders in place so this doesn’t happen and the student can learn to do this himself.

Kids with EF issues have a hard time pairing delayed consequences with what is happening in the moment. Very often, they need to actually see the poor grade to reflect on what changes need to be made.

My kid started EF coaching in 7th grade. We didn’t see him implement many of the strategies until many years later. I felt like we had wasted our money for a long time, but now, when I see what he can do and that he is finally implementing those strategies, I feel like it paid off in spades. It did take some bumps and “postmortems” for him to get there. And finding a passion.