I have preferential seating but not getting it

Due to my accommodation letter i have preferential seating. However in one of my classes despite the professor explaining to one girl who keeps seating in the front seat i need, she still sits there. I get there early but she still gets to the seat before me. I’ve tried to be polite but she won’t listen. She’s been also super smug about getting the seat. When i do get she’ll be super rude to me. Also she just texts and what not when she sits there. What’s the next step? A friend suggested the disability department.

  1. iI there really only one acceptable seat in the classroom? Will being one seat over make a material difference in your ability to learn? One of my kids had preferential seating in HS but none of us took it to mean that one specific seat in the classroom would be reserved for every class…it just meant that he was seated up front.

  2. if there is only one acceptable seat in the classroom I’d first speak to the professor (thank him/her for the efforts so far) again to discuss if you can work out a way for that specific seat to be held for you.

  3. if it still isn’t resolved go to disability services.

(con’t)
I would also read your accommodation carefully to understand exactly what you are entitled to with preferential seating. This may be something to discuss with disability services.

My daughter is hearing impaired; she has preferential seating and it means that she can choose the seat that gives her the most access; in some classes that will be up front, center, and in other classes it means under a speaker, with her bad ear towards the rest of the class to block excess noise from her good ear…generally though, there are several “seats” that would work (2-3). I imagine that is also the case for you.

Ideas:

Ask the Professor if s/he is willing to call security
Ask the Disabilities office to talk to the professor about what is happening
Talk to the Dean of Students about this

If there is only one seat that works for you, you need to state bluntly “That is my seat. I need you to move.”

Yes, tell the disabilities office that they need to reserve the seat for you.

Send an email to Student Affairs/ Accessibility office and the professor explaining the problem and asking for help. Written is better for these sorts of things. Follow up in a couple of days. I’m sorry to hear you are having to deal with this. I wish you the best.