Autistic guy at university using his disability to get away with everything

Jlawson118

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Not actually true, unfortunately. In assessed group projects, one member (or more) either not working, or working contrary to the group can affect the marks of all group members.

I experienced this as an undergraduate, not due to disability but laziness / not making an effort. When a project requires the input of four people to complete to a good standard, if only two of them apply themselves then no matter how hard they work their overall mark is always going to be compromised, even if the tutor is aware of the situation. I still got my 2:1 and apparently the tutor actually made some favourable comments to a prospective employer about my work on that project, but it's pretty gutting to get a mark around 60% of a project when you know the quality of your own work was much higher,

This is the thing I was trying to make out, in terms of group projects! He just joined our group anyway regardless of asking if he could even though we would have probably said yes. But he just put his name on the piece of paper and then would not allow us to express our ideas.

It's the lateness to projects when he has essential equipment that we need! Or we've asked him to do a particular piece of work and when asking, he hasn't even started anything for the group project that we need, and his excuses are that he's been at his boyfriends all weekend or he's been watching films all night.
Then when the tutor asks him what's going on, it's all his autism's fault..

Jlawson118

Pollycat wrote: »

It sounds to me like the university or at least the lecturer is prioritising this person's needs above the needs of the rest of the group.
And that isn't fair - it's positive discrimination.

What is the opinion of the rest of your classmates?
Do they agree with you?
If they do, perhaps you should ask for a group meeting with the lecturer to voice your concerns.

It is a common problem for classmates so the group idea might be the best choice of action I'm trying to hardest to give him an input but he just lets us down constantly. Even his carer can't deal with him and she's giving her absolute everything to try and help him out

Jlawson118

AylesburyDuck wrote: »

*I thought as much, and of course he does, allowances have to be made for his Autism, it's his basic rights!

**He's not distracting you on purpose, at least the Uni have taken control of the situation by making sure extensions ARE GIVEN! And to be honest, of course its discrimination if he's kicked out, allowance DO have to be made.

*** I'm sure he'd rather not be getting his phone out to care for his partner, but that life, its what partners do :eek:

You call yourself a friend? Wow, really? A friend would probably read up on Autism more, because it's evident you really dont have a clue, sorry but you get ZERO sympathy from me.

The allowances are made for his autism, yes and I completely understand that. But it's the fact that he is using that advantage too much and that's my point.
I know he's not distracting any of us on purpose, but I meant that as in exams where we have to be silent and work. Measures should be taken where perhaps he works in a different room on these exams. There was a girl in school who was autistic, and she got her own room to work on exams.

I'm more wound up that he's taking liberties about this! I've given him chance after chance, same with other classmates and even our tutor, but if the tutor is autistic himself and can see that this guy is taking liberties, surely that means something?

Jackieboy

Are you in Scotland by any chance?

theoretica

Have you requested training or guidance on how to behave with this man and maintain your own grades when working in a group with him? This sounds like something that you should request the university to provide.

Jlawson118

Jackieboy wrote: »

Are you in Scotland by any chance?

Nope I'm in England

Jlawson118

theoretica wrote: »

Have you requested training or guidance on how to behave with this man and maintain your own grades when working in a group with him? This sounds like something that you should request the university to provide.

The university aren't providing us with it although they are trying to provide him with it. I assume it's to try and encourage him to work well with teams and they provided him with a helper who goes all out to try and help him but he just doesn't accept it

theoretica

Jlawson118 wrote: »

The university aren't providing us with it although they are trying to provide him with it. I assume it's to try and encourage him to work well with teams and they provided him with a helper who goes all out to try and help him but he just doesn't accept it

But have you all actually asked for it? If you ask and have a refusal documented it would be valuable if you want to appeal a poor grade or ask to redo a project. As well as potentially being very useful to you if they do give it, both now and on your CV for the future. If 'aren't providing' means that you didn't ask and maybe the university just didn't think to offer then your case is weaker.

PeacefulWaters

When I was younger I'd have been similarly intolerant to another's disability.

I know I'd be far more understanding these days.

Focus on what you can do. Don't worry about others.

Pollycat

Jlawson118 wrote: »

It is a common problem for classmates so the group idea might be the best choice of action I'm trying to hardest to give him an input but he just lets us down constantly. Even his carer can't deal with him and she's giving her absolute everything to try and help him out

If this is the way you decide to go, all of you must concentrate on the fact that this is impacting on your own personal grades when working within a team with this guy as he's failing to produce within timescales.

Jlawson118 wrote: »

I'm more wound up that he's taking liberties about this! I've given him chance after chance, same with other classmates and even our tutor, but if the tutor is autistic himself and can see that this guy is taking liberties, surely that means something?

This is totally the wrong way.
Don't concentrate on what this guy may be getting out of the system.
Explain the problems that are affecting you and the other class mates.

It's all very well saying this:

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

When I was younger I'd have been similarly intolerant to another's disability.

I know I'd be far more understanding these days.

Focus on what you can do. Don't worry about others.

but if this is true:

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Not actually true, unfortunately. In assessed group projects, one member (or more) either not working, or working contrary to the group can affect the marks of all group members.

I experienced this as an undergraduate, not due to disability but laziness / not making an effort. When a project requires the input of four people to complete to a good standard, if only two of them apply themselves then no matter how hard they work their overall mark is always going to be compromised, even if the tutor is aware of the situation. I still got my 2:1 and apparently the tutor actually made some favourable comments to a prospective employer about my work on that project, but it's pretty gutting to get a mark around 60% of a project when you know the quality of your own work was much higher,

then it's not as simple as trying to be more tolerant and understanding.

It's not enough to do your own work and not worry about the input others have.