Dyslexic girl fails exams, sues University

CaptainZoidberg · Post by **CaptainZoidberg** » 2008-07-29 02:15pm

Well, alright, since the general consensus here is that all doctors require proficiency in reading, I'll have to concede the debate.

But on another note, I'm curious what you guys think about these same sort of accommodations existing on the law SATs, or the SAT reasoning test, or the graduate requisite exam.

Big Phil · Post by **Big Phil** » 2008-07-29 02:33pm

CaptainZoidberg wrote:Well, alright, since the general consensus here is that all doctors require proficiency in reading, I'll have to concede the debate.

But on another note, I'm curious what you guys think about these same sort of accommodations existing on the law SATs, or the SAT reasoning test, or the graduate requisite exam.

None of those are licensing exams, and in none of your examples are people making life/death decisions.

Your argument is a non-starter, regardless. You're one step from arguing that licensing for medical doctors should be eliminated, and hospitals should be able to make hiring decisions based on resumes. "So what if he's only has a biology degree and failed medical school? I have a good feeling about this one; let's hire him!"

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-07-30 02:11am

CaptainZoidberg wrote:Well, alright, since the general consensus here is that all doctors require proficiency in reading, I'll have to concede the debate.

Jesus fucking Christ, you were actually arguing the opposite? You seriously thought for even a fleeting moment that the ability to read should not be considered a prerequisite to practice medicine?

You need to understand something: professional licensing boards for vocations such as medicine and engineering are expected to put public safety first, not opportunity for students.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2008-07-30 02:29am

Pezzoni wrote:
CaptainZoidberg wrote:Why don't they just let her take the exam with a machine that reads the questions aloud?
I want to know why it doesn't affect her reading of non multiple-choice questions (beyond the fact she's getting kicked out for failing a MCP exam).

Think it through. In an essay she reads through a series of words and if the wording is confusing she can catch herself and go over it again. With multiple choice it's different. You and I might read a multiple choice question, realize the answer is B, and then go fill out the B bubble on the Scantron. She on the other hand reads the question, looks at the answers, realizes it's B but thinks (thanks to the dyslexia) that it's C. Then she goes to the bubble in the back and fills in D. So she's on a timed exam with her whole future riding on how she does (no pressure!) and she needs to balance out speed with the fact that she needs to double check on both the scantron and the question sheet that she's reading the right letter.

My question would be twofold: A. Is she a good student or is she merely trying to get out of a bad test by playing a disability card? and B. Did she bring up this problem to officials before hand? A for obvious reasons. B because if she went up to the officials and asked for a way around this before hand I'd have a lot more sympathy for her. One way to solve the problem would be to have someone sit opposite her and read her the choices and the answers, and then give her a certain amount of time to answer each question verbally to the person. And I can think of a couple more rather simple ways of getting around the problem on top of that. But if she didn't bring up this problem before hand then... tough luck.

On a slightly lighter note. One of my favorite jokes as a kid was medical related. What does DNA stand for? National Dyslexics Association! Baddum-tisch!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-07-30 02:36am

If she can't tell one letter from another, how do we know she won't fuck up a prescription? A medical licensing board should err on the side of public safety.

pieman3141 · Post by **pieman3141** » 2008-07-31 07:07pm

Y'know.. sometimes disabled people give the rest of us a bad name. Here I am, working my ass off just to graduate with a BA and hopefully get a job which will help pay for living expenses and get me off disability welfare. Yeah, she might've studied hard, she might've worked her ass off too, but don't be a sore loser about it. What right do you have to sue?

I've messed up too, and I know a 'mess-up' for me costs more than a 'mess-up' for someone who isn't disabled.

*sigh*. People.