Burt, Bradley J, Sr

To:

• Hansen, Brock J – DWD <Brock.Hansen@dwd.wisconsin.gov>

+5 others

Fri 2/3/2023 9:29 AM

Dear VA, UW Whitewater Benefits Coordinator Amy Moore, WSG President Will Hinz, Advisor Dr. Kathy Brady-

Please note, for your records, I am writing to you today to share with you my college experience. My Disability Coordinator Debbie Reuter called me this morning frustrated after emailing her regarding my concerns I shared with my VA VTIAL social worker. My concerns pertain to the content volume in my COMM 202 course overloading my memory, which develops into migraines.

I reached out to Reuter after our session to report my situation. I was met with rudeness and told I will have to drop the course. The university does not allow my VITAL counselor the opportunity to discuss the matter. Only at Madison College. For the past three years, I have attempted to exercise my Mission Act right to receive these services on campus and the university will not support me.

For the record, I notified my advisor Dr. Kathy Brady the professor was top notch and working with me. He is an exceptional and professional leader I look up to. We met via Web Ex, and he assured me that he would help me succeed. My conversation with Reuter was my relay based on my social worker’s concerns.

I notified her the content is overloading my sensory and stated the professor would allow me open notes if CSD allowed. Reuter would not listen nor entertain the idea and stated I do not have this accommodation. I am going to her boss and requesting a review of my accommodations. I have emailed WSG President Will Hinz seeking the information of her next line of sight.

I brought my concerns before my VA VITAL counselor on Wednesday. I let her know, who is cc:d in this email, I am dealing with another situation like what happened in Spring 2022, when I needed to take a “W” due to course overload. Reuter is telling me I need to take another “W” after my professor revealed another week’s worth of course instruction that is triple what other classes require.

How can a student with disabilities succeed? Especially after their window of swapping or dropping opportunity closes, and the professor reveals a new week’s worth of content, which the student reports exacerbate their disability? How can a disabled student prepare for that when their window of opportunity would have allowed them? From a social contract viewpoint, Aristotle would consider this argument as a means only moral dilemma.

Having another “W” on my record does not look good on a grad school application. I am unsure how I should proceed and need guidance from all parties I have cc:d to close out my last semester. I have been told by my advisor in previous emails I can walk at graduation this semester if I take a first session summer school class. I have been planning a new strategy since the first day of the semester and believe I have a legitimate grievance I need to bring before the VA, the Whitewater Student Government, the Wisconsin university system, and the Department of Workforce Development.

I have cc:d my DVR coordinator in this email and am making clear this is where I am for my check-in report. I may need to use Project Assist and try to work this out with the professor. I would rather take a D- and get the credits instead of a “W.” My disability coordinator is not working with me and does not represent me as a student. She says I have to drop the class if it’s causing me an overload and to reach out to my advisor first. I noted the ADA Act of 1990 argues that claim. The university must reasonably accommodate me and is not going to listen to what I have to say according to Reuter. I need your help.

P.S. Attn: Gov. Tony Evers. Please attach this to your ongoing relay file from my Outpost 422 firm.

Respectfully,

Bradley Burt