These are four examples of what the consequences of denial of service mean for me:

1. When I first got disabled in 1983, I was writing at 1/6 the speed of what I was writing before I fell rock-climbing. This meant that a homework assignment that was expected to take 15 hours, would take me 90 hours. My homework assignments were always incomplete, poorly composed and hard to read. I needed writing assistance and I wasn’t getting it.

   I specifically asked DSS at UC Santa Cruz for help. The head of DSS refused – I dropped Endocrinology as a result, my only class in Fall, 1984. She told me that all DSS would supply me with were note-takers, homework was my problem.

2. In Fall 2004, I solved an Calculus problem using trigonometric substitution when the instructor thought it could only be done using partial fractions. I was able to do that because a friend did all of the writing allowing me the time and energy to think about each step.

3. The Chemistry 163-A midterm, Fall 2007:

   My score, while 20 points above the class average, should have been 28 points points above the class average. On the first question I lost eight points because I did not have the formula for the angular momentum of a particle. The reason I did not have it, was my hope that I would not need it, because writing it down was too dificult for me and I had no help in preparing my equation sheet. Disabled Resource Center (DRC) will say it is my fault for not asking for help. When DRC was DSS, they refused every time I had asked before. I do not derive pleasure from being humiliateded again.

4. Immediately below this text is a sample of my handwriting from Spring of 2008. I have copied the first half, of the formula on the left, onto the right. My handwriting is not very good in 2008. Try to imagine how bad it was in 1984. Before I was disabled I used to type 70 words/minute without error. With my TBI, if I am lucky, I can type 35 words/minute with lots of errors. I need help writing, but I get lots of excuses and rationales instead.

   The sample below is from Chemistry 163-C (Statistical Mechanics, Spring 2008). I wound up dropping the class, though I found it fascinating. The reason being lack of writing help with the homework. The withdraw cost me $700.00.