To ask for help//be upset?

[JaneS]

I am on the fence about this one, but would like your thoughts.

At the moment, I teach students, but I am not a member of the permanent staff. I have a disability that is very mild, and unnoticeable (I hope) about 99% of the time in my normal life. However, I'm really struggling with some of the admin-type stuff I have to do in order to teach. It takes me hours when I do manage.

I know that the rules for students say that, if a student has the sort of problem I have (even if it is much less serious than my, admittedly already mild, problem), they must be supported. And I know that full-time employees must also be supported (although, to be fair, I know this doesn't always happen as well as it might). However, in both cases, it is theoretically allowed for students and full-time staff to seek help.

The disparity between theory and practice here is a big part of why I'm unsure whether or not to feel short-changed.

As far as I can tell, I'm not allowed to seek any help.

I've asked for very simple things - eg., I said I couldn't seem to get through the IT system to generate a mailing list for my students (I probably typed in a number wrongly; this is part of my disability). I asked if anyone could help me find the mailing list, and was told that I must keep re-trying the system on my own. There's no confidentiality issue here; all the other teachers and my superiors can see the same stuff I'd be able to if I could access it.

AIBU to ask for more help? I've never done this before, and I am hesitant as I want to show I can do this job as well as anyone else. It might impact on my future employment if I can't. But at the same time, it seems unfair to me that I don't get the help that is legally required to be given to both my students, and the full-time teachers.

YANBU

ask for help and keep asking until someone does help you

YANBU.

Apart from anything else, it would just be a courtesy to help you, surely?

LRD - in your situation I would ask someone I thought would help me - you must have made one friend there (?!) rather than go through the 'official channels' because depite the fact that it shouldn't go against you for a permanent position - I think more often than not it will :(

From a business perspective, would they rather stick to the rules (and let you make an unnecessary mistake) or give a helping hand, even if it's not legally required of them, or whatever the jargon may be?

YAtotallyNBU. Keep asking. I can't believe anyone would be that mean as to reject your request for help.

Thanks for replies.

It's not that I don't have friends, it's that my friends don't have access to the stuff I need. My superior does, but I don't know him well and I don't think he understand at all. The IT people have access, but have told me it is not their job (!) and their system is very simple to work (!).

I take your point, Chipping, about offical/unofficial channels. That's exactly what I am concerned about, so good to know.

tainted - I think the thing is, they know I need to work at this until I get there. It is meant to take about 10 minutes, and has so far taken me a few days. I dread anything else similar coming up, but know it will. It's unlikely I'll actually fail to do what they want, so there won't be an actual failure for anyone to deal with. It's just crap for me, and means I have less time to do other work.

Can you make it clear that you need the help because of your problem, not because you are not good with technology?

It is completely illegal to discriminate against anyone with a disability, and employers are obliged to make any reasonable effort to accommodate your needs. You can take them to tribunal if they have failed to do so, even if you are not a permanent employee. BUT you must tell them why you need help, otherwise you have no protection in law if they refuse to help you and you end up in a situation where you cannot do your job.

I understand you may not want to talk about your problem in case it impacts you getting a permanent position, but if you have difficulty doing your job that could affect it too.

I really feel for you, my DSis is disabled but has never made much of an issue of it at work, despite the fact that standing constantly without a break left her needing physio . She just really didn't want to make waves even though she was left struggling.

I read this as both a disability issue and a training issue. If you are unable to do something, or it is taking you ages to do then you should be helped. Saying someone should re-try over and over on their own is just nuts (and bad management). If you need to be shown again, you need to be shown again and if your disability is effecting things then structures should be put in place to assist you. I have to admit I read your post and thought 'thank god I don't work there!'. There are certain tasks I have to do on an infrequent basis and everytime I have to go to my boss and ask for a refresher - its hardly a crime...

Thanks Omnia, I'll try to be really clear that it's a disability issue.

Black - it is an odd situation. I gave the wrong impression in my OP because I was trying not to give too many details, but I am a student teacher (ie., I'm a student and that's my main function, but I also teach classes who're studying at a lower level). It doesn't seem very businesslike - the idea is that you should always sort issues out on your own. No-one would think of training us to use the IT system - it's meant to be so simple that's not needed (huh!).

Really encouraged by your reply - thanks!

If you're teaching as part of your formal teaching practice in order to obtain your qualification and you are having difficulties I think you need to discuss them with your tutor. If you are also employed to teach whilst completing your teaching qualification you need to discuss with your line manager becasue the organisation is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for you under the DDA.

Thanks oncemai.

I'm not sure if it counts as formal, or not. My qualification (that I'm working towards) isn't directly a teaching qualification, which is I think why they think it's ok to ignore problems.

It does sound as if I've got a case to ask a few more questions than I have, though, so I will try.