Hard of Hearing Nursing Student Dismissed, Sued and Awarded $75,000

[Donna Maheady]

I cannot believe how inconsiderate and disrespectful this college was to the student's disability. They were wrong when they booted her out of the program. It makes me angry that there are people like that who can't be understanding and provide the necessary tools this student needed. I am glad this student fought back and stood her ground. She deserves all the success that she gets and there are by far better schools that can accommodate her needs.

If the school was required to take her back into the program, do you think it would have been a positive experience?

[misscee]

I am hard of hearing and wear bilateral hearing aids for moderate/severe hearing loss. I currently work as a medical assistant and often stress about feeling sufficient enough to go back to school for nursing. I am sad for this student who worked hard and earned her right to be where she was but I also feel a sense of pride that she was able to rectify the situation and make her voice heard. You know what? I feel like if she can do it - I can get over my fears! Call it my new year's resolution.

[amoLucia]

If the school was required to take her back into the program, do you think it would have been a positive experience?

I think it could have been. The school would have been much more 'accommodating'.

I would think the school would be muy hesitant to pull some type of retaliatory response knowing that this student could then add some type of 'whistle blower' protection violation to another lawsuit. I'm sure they are thinking things twice over and more now.

Wouldn't it be some kind of a kicker if that student were to return to that school as a graduate now employed in some type of EEO counselling?!?! That gal was one smart cookie and good for her! Need more like her.

And to Misscee - go for it! And good luck to you!

[deafandright]

Sadly, these kinds of situations are fairly common. And not just for colleges/universities, but also employers. People would be amazed if they stopped asking whether someone could/couldn't and started asking "how". For anyone who has hearing loss and is uncertain about your interested career, go to your local Vocational Rehabilitation office and ask to speak with Rehabilitation Counselor with training in deafness/hearing loss. You'd be amazed at what Rehabilitation Counselors know and what they can do for you.

Right now, I'm currently working on helping people with hearing loss obtain training for Commercial Driver's Licenses and gain employment as interstate truck drivers. Other people in a few select states have done it. It's now about pushing the states that are resistant to comply and learn that it indeed is possible.

[Donna Maheady]

Sadly, these kinds of situations are fairly common. And not just for colleges/universities, but also employers. People would be amazed if they stopped asking whether someone could/couldn't and started asking "how". For anyone who has hearing loss and is uncertain about your interested career, go to your local Vocational Rehabilitation office and ask to speak with Rehabilitation Counselor with training in deafness/hearing loss. You'd be amazed at what Rehabilitation Counselors know and what they can do for you.

Right now, I'm currently working on helping people with hearing loss obtain training for Commercial Driver's Licenses and gain employment as interstate truck drivers. Other people in a few select states have done it. It's now about pushing the states that are resistant to comply and learn that it indeed is possible.

Great advice...thank you!

[Ecowoman]

I did not consider the impacts of being a hearing impaired nursing student and my audiologist has not helped me find an amplified stethoscope or other tool to use with my hearing aids.

Our school also does not provide closed captions for online lectures. I am not sure where to look for help.

thank you!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Did you self identify to your school's office of disabilities? Did you have an IEP or 504 plan in your previous education settings (whether HS (504/IEP or post secondary (504))? Did you ask your audiologist for help? Did you ask the school to accommodate? It's not the school's job once you graduate high school to seek out students that need accommodations it's the student's legal obligation to self identify and work with the designated office to create an accommodation plan. How significant is your impairment? Do you wear hearing aids? Can you read lips? Do you sign? If you sign are you fluent enough to consider getting an interpreter credential? (This will increase your opportunities and marketability later on or even to secure work while in school. This is an aside). You need to ask for what you need to be successful or work with the office of disabilities to set a plan in place.

I'm more experienced in elementary/middle/high school advocacy but my child is beginning transition so I know the major requirements for post secondary accommodations.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I did not consider the impacts of being a hearing impaired nursing student and my audiologist has not helped me find an amplified stethoscope or other tool to use with my hearing aids.

Our school also does not provide closed captions for online lectures. I am not sure where to look for help.

thank you!

i am with beachy, YOU need to step it up. it is up to you to ask for/work around/whatever. google hearing aide compatible steths. and they are tax deductible. not as a work expense, but right of the top. and, i would think, less likely to be stolen than the electronic steths.