University Student Accuses School Of Failing Him
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
December 7, 2006

TORONTO, ONTARIO--A freshman student with Down syndrome told the Toronto Star that he is worried he won't pass his first semester at York University because the school has failed to provide him the teaching assistant he needs to take the exams.

"I feel ticked off," Ashif Jaffer said. "I've been waiting for these exams."

"I'm ready."

Jaffer's mother, Fran Marinic-Jaffer, who is a doctoral student and owner of a tutoring business, says her son does learn the material, he just needs the assistant to help pull the answers out of him during exams.

A university spokesman, who refused on comment directly on Jaffer's case, said the school must maintain the "integrity of degrees" it issues.

Marinic-Jaffer told the Star that she has filed a complaint with York's ombudsman alleging Ashif is being denied access to an education.

"They've just totally ignored his need for accommodations," she said.

Related:
"School denies access: Student" (Toronto Star)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/06/red/1207a.htm

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Reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express international disability rights news service.
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