AIBU Or making a bit deal about nothing? My University and My Epilepsy

[KateSpade]

Tonight, as part of our course we had to have an evening talking about out previous work placements we had completed. This was a compulsory event, written into the module handbook and had to be there aswell as loosing marks if we didn't turn up.

So, not many physical things set off my Epilepsy, the one thing is Camera Flashes. The room was already bright, but needed a flash, all the lights were bouncing off each other and making me feel slightly funny.

To publicise the event a photographer was there taking pictures, i asked if the photographer could not use the flash, he refused. I left it a few more minutes, took a break and came back, still photographing. Told my Teacher, mentioned the fact it wasn't agreeing with my Epilepsy, she told me i would have to wait outside (the building) until the photographer had finished, and as it was for marketing the even they could not stop taking pictures and it wasn't their fault i had epilepsy.

(N.B - if i had stayed around the flash for a long period of time, it would have been quite likely i would have had a seizure. I am usually alright for around 10 minutes before i start to feel a bit funny. No other lights affect me, it is just lots of repeated camera flashes)

So, i waited outside in the cold November weather for around 40 minutes.

So AIBU to feel that this was a bit of a wank thing to make me do? I feel very patronised and slightly embarrassed if I'm honest.

However i don't know if i am making a big deal out of nothing?

All Opinions welcome!

So AIBU to feel that this was a bit of a wank thing to make me do? I feel very patronised and slightly embarrassed if I'm honest.

You were discriminated against because of your 'disability'. The uni failed to make a 'reasonable adjustment'.

YANBU and you can claim money from them.

Wow. So your tutor felt it appropriate to prioritize marketing photos over a potentially life threatening/limiting medical condition? Great piece of PR work there.

And if you hadn't left the building quickly enough, the photographer could have had some Great Quality Photos of you having a seizure while attending a compulsory event? Somebody needs to re-think their marketing strategy.

But I agree with Naoko. Your tutor should have been aware of your epilepsy and possible triggers before the event, carried out a risk assessment and made reasonable adjustments to accommodate you. (That may have meant allowing you to attend part of the event or having a separate waiting area for you while the photographs were being taken) Forcing you to wait outside in the cold was not ok.

If you had been a wheelchair user and unable to access the building, would they have forced you to wait outside just so you could avoid loosing marks?

That's unfair, I'm sure there could of been some middle ground,a break between each set if photographs so you could have a break/cover your eyes, having photos at the start/end so you could leave for that part or doing something to reduce the amount of flashes your exposed to. My guessing is they don't really understand epilepsy, is there someone who represents disabled students who could get involved or someone from epilepsy uk?