I think having a way for students to anonymously submit comments/concerns sounds like a great idea!

Biases are going to always effect us, no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves of that they are not. Unfortunately, it is one of the downsides of caring about your research on a deeply personal level. At some point, personal and professionalism cross the line and where is that line? Is the line sitting in a tree to protest a pipeline? Is the line inviting citizen scientists to your house for dinner? Is the line having to decide between being a good person who cares deeply for the people being treated unjustly or sitting quietly and just reporting the data?

I don’t know where the engineering line is.. because it’s not a line in my opinion… it’s a bubble… where you can be both a good person and and activist while still reporting the facts. However, in the world… people draw lines and you can’t be both or you’re an outcast.

Man okay, now I’m sad… 😦

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Medha, I agree! I think that disclosing to professors, and inviting student to disclose, is a really beneficial practice that can help individuals with chronic illness advocate for themselves!

Kristen, thank you for reading! I agree- it’s a conversation that I think would be beneficial if it was more open. In private, I sometimes get good responses from professors and that’s great, but sometimes they don’t respond well, and at those times I wish I had disclosed my disability more openly so I could receive support from other classmates. I’m happy to say that I spoke up for myself against that professor, but the experience has made the entire class feel much less safe and it’s definitely a delicate line to balance between defending myself, and not upsetting someone in a position of authority over me. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

Carter- definitely! The decision to disclose my disability to professors is always kind of a tightrope walk; I don’t want them to think I’m making excuses, but I also don’t want them to expect too much from me on a bad pain day. I agree, it’s an awkward space!

Farha, thank you for sharing! I can empathize with the difficulties in getting accommodation, and I loved how you brought up that sometimes it is difficult to know how to respond to sensitive issues. I think that your willingness to support others is awesome, and even when it can be awkward or uncomfortable to try and empathize with those struggling, in my experience just having support from someone is the biggest relief! I definielty relate to your points. Thank you for your openness!

Hello Leslie! Thank you so much for your thoughts! I agree, without knowing that a student is dealing with something invisible, it’s hard to offer the support. I think that you being so open minded is the biggest support that students with chronic illness can ask for, and I really appreciate your willingness to engage in conversation!

Hello! Sorry if my explanation was a bit wonky- essentially, big tasks like cleaning the house or going to visit friends will take more spoons than just brushing your teeth. However, without a chronic illness, it doesn’t matter how many they cost because you have an unlimited amount! Living with a chronic illness means deciding what you can spend your energy on, and what you have to step back from and not do. Thank you so much for your thoughts and your empathy!

Agreed! I can definitely say that when I notice a student slacking off, my first thought is not that they may have an invisible illness- even though I struggle with it myself! I really appreciate your emphasis on empathy- while it may be difficult at times, I think it is ultimately for the best that we give students the opportunity to explain their behavior and potentially disclose information about their struggles.

Heath, thanks for reading! I can definitely empathize with not knowing what students are going through, but I agree that when teachers have flexibility, it invites open conversation that can help students succeed.