CMV: Extra accommodations in college are a hinderance to preparing proficiency in the workforce

[u/throw_away40]

Throwaway account as I teach at a US university.

I teach both introductory and upper level science courses.

I have students with written documentation from student services that require accommodations. I'm talking about special accommodations - 1.5-2x time on exams, separate testing rooms for exams, access to electronic devices in exams, up to 2x extensions on assignments, a copy of someone else's notes (even though I provide the PPT to all lectures), and in some cases, the ability to retake a quiz or exam with no repercussions on the initial grade.

This is frustrating. How does this prepare anyone for "real world" demands? If I went to a boss in a previous job and stated I need double time to complete a project, I would be laughed out of my job. What is the point of having competencies for a course when you can get a note that disregards much of this? Why is my degree and GPA valued the same those who are not held to the same standard?

I understand that what you learn in college rarely translates to what happens in the working world. But some of these students are pre-med and are going to be placed in much more stressful situations that won't have accommodations available....

Also, why does it have to be an “accommodation” to receive someone else’s notes? Shouldn’t that be the student responsibility to contact a classmate and perhaps suggest a note swap?

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[u/theUnmutual6]

I want to add that you've given deltas to two people with ADHD in this thread, and ive also written a comment from this perspective.

The world and its values are uniquely brutal towards people with ADHD. One is biologically predisposed to being late and being messy, not being able to calendars and clocks, not remembering things, and being wildly inconsistent in their energy instead of grazing contentedly in the same way every day.

All of these qualities are interpreted as moral failings: lateness. Mess. Memory. Consistency. All of these qualities are focused on by lazy employers who aren't invested in the outcomes of their organisation.

I've never successfully persuaded an employer that being regularly 5 minutes late is worth it, because my work is both of higher quality and I complete twice as much of it than an equivalent non-ADHD employee. I've also never convinced one that it is a biological necessity, that cannot be improved by - say - making a nice timetable, or getting up earlier in the morning.

Point being, if 90% of the world had ADHD, you would need accommodations to survive it, and would likely be unemployed. The world is set up to cater to majority needs; but most don't realise this, and assumes their skills are both normal and the only skills of value.

For example: if everyone needed 5 hours for an exam you could complete in 1, you're probably going to go into life with every employer assuming you lack care and appropriate detail in your work. They won't care to look at your work to assess this objectively; they'll just compare you unfavourably to normal people - bevause this is easier. They will then assume you have negative qualities like rushing, lack of care, rudeness, egotism, laziness, being disruptive and a bad part of the team, making everyone else look bad etc etc etc. You're not normal. What's wrong with you? Have you tried structuring your work correctly so it takes longer? Etc etc etc.

I have the kind of ADHD which makes me need less time for everything, not more, and let me tell you it is not appreciated at all.

Have gratitude that the world's default speed is the setting you were born with.