There is much more to consider in the case of the UCLA professor who banned students from recording her class, arguing that in a class with controversial topics, this is the only way to protect her students' freedom of speech. This decision, which she has extended to students with disabilities requiring special accommodations, has sparked a great deal of debate about topics like the importance of disability accommodations as well as the issues with relying on artificial intelligence when it comes to those accommodations.

If you are having issues with your school that pertain to the right to privacy or lack of disability accommodations, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. We can advise you of your rights and make sure your school is always a safe and nurturing environment for you. Call 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation.

Disability Accommodations

Schools and teachers alike are required to reasonably accommodate a student's disability, and one of the most common ways to do so is to allow students to record a class so they can go over a lecture later and make sure they haven't missed anything. In this particular case, the professor's refusal to allow students to record her class – whatever her reasoning might be – is directly impacting disability accommodations for some of her students, something the professor herself is aware of, as she specifically noted that this even applied to students who would require it for that reason.

Living with a disability is already complicated enough without school or specific professors, making it a point to ensure that students don't have access to the tools that make their lives easier. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you as you navigate these situations so you never have to go against a professor or the school alone. We can be by your side as you fight for your rights to have the accommodations you need to learn the way you deserve.

The Issues with Artificial Intelligence

One of the issues raised in the UCLA case is that of artificial intelligence and the dangers of allowing services that rely on artificial intelligence to be the ones that record and take notes for students with disabilities. AI is a very new technology that is still very unreliable and makes a great deal of mistakes. However, an outright ban without any level of consideration for the harm that a student can suffer just because a school or a professor might be distrustful of technology is only going to hurt the student in the long run.

There are alternative methods of note-taking, like peer note-taking, which the UCLA professor has agreed to, but it is important to note that peer note-takers come with their own issues and biases because they are just other students taking notes. There is no perfect accommodation in place for students with disabilities, and recording the lecture is actually the simplest and fairest way for students with any type of disability to get the information.

If you or a loved one are being denied the right disability accommodations or are concerned about the type of accommodations you do have, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. Call 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation.