Today marks the first day of a new semester of grad school for me. Like all "first days," I'm a little nervous, a little excited, and a little resigned.
The professor of one of my literature classes posted the syllabus last night, and this morning was the first time I got a chance to look at it. -- It was reading pretty straightforward, until I got to the cell phone policy.
I understand professors wanting to crack down on the use of electronics in class. I get that. Having been a teacher, electronics were a sticking point with me also. However, and this is a big however, my hearing aids are Blue-toothed into my phone. I control the volume and programming from my phone. This means I have to have it out, and be able to use it, in class.
I'm sure I'll get an exception. Thanks to the trifecta: the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and WIA (Workplace Investment Act), I am afforded some leeway as to rules and regulations about things like this. Still, it is always a stark reminder that, even now, I have to advocate for what I need to be successful.
I sometimes wonder what not having a disability is like.
So, today I will square my shoulders, embrace my nervousness, lean into my excitement, and resignedly handle self-advocacy. It's a new semester, and with it, new knowledge and challenges - even in the face of old problems.
Go forth and write!
The professor of one of my literature classes posted the syllabus last night, and this morning was the first time I got a chance to look at it. -- It was reading pretty straightforward, until I got to the cell phone policy.
I understand professors wanting to crack down on the use of electronics in class. I get that. Having been a teacher, electronics were a sticking point with me also. However, and this is a big however, my hearing aids are Blue-toothed into my phone. I control the volume and programming from my phone. This means I have to have it out, and be able to use it, in class.
I'm sure I'll get an exception. Thanks to the trifecta: the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and WIA (Workplace Investment Act), I am afforded some leeway as to rules and regulations about things like this. Still, it is always a stark reminder that, even now, I have to advocate for what I need to be successful.
I sometimes wonder what not having a disability is like.
So, today I will square my shoulders, embrace my nervousness, lean into my excitement, and resignedly handle self-advocacy. It's a new semester, and with it, new knowledge and challenges - even in the face of old problems.
Go forth and write!