[Sensitive Topic] Will Professors Write Good LORs for "Disabled" Students

[discombobulate]

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Long story short, I qualify for/am entitled to disability benefits at my school in regards to academics, due to an injury. That means I can obtain special testing accommodations, i.e. extra time, if I request it for a course.

The testing accommodations are obviously helpful to me, (they boost my performance by ~1-3%), but I have been afraid of using it on classes taught by professors whom I intend to ask for LORs later on because I am worried that they will question my academic competence. I am scared they will think that the only reason I made high grades in their classes was because of the extra accommodations that technically gave me an advantage over other students.

Do you think my concerns are valid? Should I continue opting out of test accommodations for BCPM classes, to avoid making potential LOR writers think that I am incapable of handling the material they teach like a normal student?

 

[CloverBale]

Dude no legit professor is going to look down on you. Ask for the letters. Usually professors get emailed at the beginning of the semester about which students have disabilities (but not what kind), so they already know. I was part of my schools disability group as well and all of my professors were super sweet and understanding. There's a reason why you need the accommodations, they understand that.

If there's ever any issue with a professor you can talk to the people who run the disblitiy group. They will usually email the professor and advocate on your behalf. They're there to support you.

 

[discombobulate]

Dude no legit professor is going to look down on you. Ask for the letters. Usually professors get emailed at the beginning of the semester about which students have disabilities (but not what kind), so they already know. I was part of my schools disability group as well and all of my professors were super sweet and understanding. There's a reason why you need the accommodations, they understand that.

If there's ever any issue with a professor you can talk to the people who run the disability group. They will usually email the professor and advocate on your behalf. They're there to support you.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. My school is similar; the disability office emails the professors too if I happen to request the accommodations for their class. Have you ever wondered whether professors feel pressured by the administration to treat you better?

During the couple of times I used accommodations, I had to discuss my needs with the professor, and while they were always very nice about it (like you said), they also emphasized their willingness to comply with the administration. I guess professors can get fired for discrimination if they don't do exactly what the office asks them. Since the way they interact with me becomes influenced (even a little) by that type of mindset ( trying not to run into legal issues), I am unsure whether it sets me apart from my peers in a bad way.

 

[CloverBale]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. My school is similar; the disability office emails the professors too if I happen to request the accommodations for their class. Have you ever wondered whether professors feel pressured by the administration to treat you better?

During the couple of times I used accommodations, I had to discuss my needs with the professor, and while they were always very nice about it (like you said), they also emphasized their willingness to comply with the administration. I guess professors can get fired for discrimination if they don't do exactly what the office asks them. Since the way they interact with me becomes influenced (even a little) by that type of mindset ( trying not to run into legal issues), I am unsure whether it sets me apart from my peers in a bad way.

No never. I don't think the professors are pressured to treat you better by the administration. Just put yourself in their shoes. If you were a professor and someone had a learning disability (confirmed with your college) in your class and needed extra time on their exam, are you really going to think "wow this jerk needs extra time, can't believe I have to do this for him." No professor is going to think that. They're all trying to help you. I think what you're running into is the fear of seeming like an inposture? Like your disability isn't "good enough" to warrant accommodations from your professors? I think that's what you may be worried about. But honestly if the disability group on campus didn't think you needed it, they wouldn't hand it to you. They're not easy that way. Not everyone can walk in and claim disability for no reason. They have guidelines they have to follow on what warrants a disability. Professors probably don't even think twice about your issues either (also I would probably refrain from telling them your disability, just say you have one, it's none of their business).