GU-Q: "We Maintain The Highest Standards of Integrity" - A Slogan Whose Implementation We Investigate on the Ground
- Marie Thum
- 3d
- 4 min read
Being Aware of Disabilities Does Not Necessarily Encourage Students to Ask for Accommodations
Coming back from a 10-day study trip at the American University in Cairo (AUC) has made one thing crystal clear: Georgetown University in Qatar is, by far, less representative of students with disabilities than AUC and other American universities in the U.S.
What is the reason for the absence of students with disabilities on our GUQ campus? Is it merely "healthy" demographics that prevent diversity from entering the Desert Hoya society, or is it the invisibility of mental or physical disabilities? And then why is it important to be "aware" of disabilities? Going back in time, I learned at school to render disabilities invisible. "Never talk to a person with disabilities about their disabilities." Is this dogma outdated? How is informed curiosity possible? - A Reportage.
Sunday morning, Cairo, 8:30 am: White sticks are hastily rolling over the well-maintained educational breeding ground of a spacious AUC campus that is influenced by South American and Old Egyptian architecture. Students hurrying to class are sympathetically stepping aside, naturally holding doors open or simply passing the first coffee of the day over the counter when they see students with disabilities. Indeed, they do not even have to ask for understanding, it seems inexplicably understood that some people need more help than others, and students are readily available to provide it.
Seeing the smooth integration left us in awe. Us, a dozen GUQ students who were lucky enough to take part in the educational trip to Egypt last fall break.
Being aware of the numerically disproportionate comparison between the AUC campus, which accommodates around 6000 students, and GUQ, which accommodates less than a tenth of it, leaves me with the question of whether it is the demographics that justify the small number of students with disabilities on our campus. In order to put it in context, I had a talk with Dr. Mahnaz, Student Wellness & Counseling Center (SWCC) Director at GUQ.
Despite my familiarity with Dr. Mahnaz, who I got to know during her Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) workshop that she offers each Spring semester (highly recommended!), I was unfamiliar with making an appointment with her personally. Soon, I got to know the reason why. Instead of using Google calendar, the counseling center uses its own system, carrying the name "Titanium Schedule.” Well, given its name, it assuringly keeps data as safe.
I visited Dr. Mahnaz to gather general information about the supply lines and potential provisions for students with physical or mental disabilities:
"Does the admissions office know about the student's disabilities upon admission?"
"What and who determines the budget for provisions like ramps, electric doors, etc.?"
"How does the information of the existence of a disability make its way into the classroom?"
"Who is responsible for implementing academic accommodations and, in the end, does the professor know who is the one being accommodated?"
Peppering Dr. Mahnaz with questions turned out to shed light in the dark.
GUQ accommodates more students with disabilities than I had assumed, and that might probably be the secret to successful inclusion.
Without telling me exact numbers and always aware about her professional discretion, Dr. Mahnaz assures that even though we might not see people running around with canes or wheelchairs, very often, "There is still quite a good number of people with disabilities.” According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 21 percent of undergraduate students across American institutions have a disability, but according to Joanna Popczyk, Learning and Accessibility Specialist, the number at GU-Q is lower.
Going further with our investigation, a student with disabilities should consider visiting one of the counselors at Student Wellness & Counseling Center to request accommodations. The next station would be the approval of the Academic Resource Center on the main campus of the list with all possible accommodations that the student is eligible for and could make use of. According to Dr. Mahnaz, the process of obtaining the main campus's approval, "usually only takes about one or two days considering the time difference between Doha and DC and occasionally may result in a request for more information or clarification.” Going from Washington back to EC, we then enter the Office of Academic Services (OAS) where the practical implementation takes place. If students need special software, more time for exams, or other accommodations, they will get them here.
So let us leave Dr. Mahnaz's comfortable office on the first floor and head to Joanna, who is located just a few offices into the OAS.
Joanna is responsible for the implementation of accommodations. By using a special system, called "AIM,” all data is kept safe and, in the end, not even professors know about a student's disability because the need for accommodations are merely communicated with them. The most common accommodations that are registered have to do with exams - be it extra time, or a distraction-reduced environment.
One of the things that Joanna shared is the importance of students being aware of the support available to them early on so that they can make the most of their learning journeys at GU-Q. Recently, Joanna has started a piloting project by introducing a text-to-speech software to students with accommodations that accelerates and enhances studying, enabling listening to slides and assigned readings like when listening to an audio book. A software that could be helpful for everyone, right? For other students struggling with notetaking or focus and concentration, Joanna showed me some other helpful tools that are available to students with accommodations.
If you are one of the students that believes to be in need of a consultation, do not hesitate and get your appointment at the Wellness & Counseling Center or talk with the Office of Academic Services who are readily available for consultation.
Below are useful links:
SWCS:
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