Personality Feedback From A Professor?

I wanted to get feedback:

I'm in my 30s and trying to finish a Master's Degree. I literally had all A's in my field until last fall. I told one of my professers that I have autism (Asperger's). I got an email from her saying that I can't use my disabilty (austism) as an excuse when I socially miscue in class. I told her I had autism because I do social miscue at times and didn't want to be misunderstood. Is she allowed to say that to me? Is that legal? I've been trying to figure out how to grapple with this, as no one I work with has had a problem with my being "off" at times and most people usually look past my social miscues. I'm over my head in dealing with this professor though. Does anyone have any experience with this? I have had no help or support from the university on the issue and I feel like I'm in over my head. Thanks ahead of time for any help any of you can provide.

longman over 11 years ago

Or try this one, which is advice for professors on how to behave properly with disabled students (scroll down to Dos and Donts). Note particularly the final Dont. Maybe refer this site to your professor if you can do it without upsetting her sensitivity.....
www.apa.org/.../ada-basics.aspx
Sounds like you've been unlucky enough to get a naff professor who hasn't paid enough attention to professional practice. While I think professors in USA have more autonomy than lecturers have here (we can get told off pretty badly if any student complains - money talks), there's a limit to how far your professor can go, and I think she is at the end of the gang plank with the sharks circling below, if I can use that metaphor.
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IntenseWorld over 11 years ago

Hi there across the pond in that case. You might find this useful:
http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/take-action/foundational-laws.html
http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/navigating-services/federal-legislation-legal-issues.pdf
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106272
http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=4550
http://www.bu.edu/law/faculty/scholarship/workingpapers/documents/CarusoD032310Rev2accepted.pdf
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longman over 11 years ago

We also have a different understanding of professor. Yours I suspect is merely a label for a teacher in a university, here a Professor is a leader in a field of research, and may not do much undergraduate teaching.
So this, I suspect, is one of your professors being awkward rather than a university-wide sanction on autism. That said I guess its still tricky to go up against a professor?
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SableTC over 11 years ago

Yes, I'm American. I'm just trying to reach out internationally for advice. I'm working with the disabililty right center where I live, but I appreciate input internationally as well. I use "fall" and "autumn" interchangablly. I live in *New* England
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IntenseWorld over 11 years ago

As you refer to fall, instead of autumn as we do in the UK, you must be in USA?
There will be laws there regarding discrimination, here we have The Equality Act 2010 but you would need to research which laws your country has.
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