Dartmouth College is both an Ivy League school and a dream school for many. However, in recent news, Staci Mannella has decided to bring a lawsuit against Dartmouth, on the grounds that Dartmouth was not able to fulfill her needs as a student with a disability.
Staci Mannella, an accomplished skier and Dartmouth student who has achromatopsia and is legally blind, is suing Dartmouth over accessibility issues. According to USA Today, although Mannella had discussed accomodations that would be needed for her a student, these accomodations were either given to her late by the school, or not given at all. Academic readings would be given to Mannella after the due date for those readings had already passed. And since Dartmouth works on a quarter schedule, classes are fast-paced and it can be easy to fall behind with late reading access.
Mannella’s attorney for the lawsuit is Rosemarie Arnold, a personal injury lawyer.
Mannella’s case shows just how prevalent ableism is. Ableism is defined by Merriam Webster as “discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities.” It is important to view humans as disabilities to be just as deserving of academic success as humans without. No college, regardless of status or position, should be exempt from providing students with what they need in order to have a fair chance at graduating and at getting high grades.
People who are disabled are not burdens, but rather, human beings who are capable of going far in their lives. Staci Mannella with her accomplishments of being a talented skier and an excellent student, shows just that.
