[Pi_Puppids]

In the beginning of my 2L year of law school, I had a manic episode which led to regrettable behavioral outbursts/harassment towards certain members of the faculty/staff. As a result, I was placed on university probation, and the aggrieved individuals lodged a university stay away order against me. The probation lifted at the end of the school year, and the stay away order was lifted for all but two individuals. In the beginning of my 3L year, I had another manic episode and was charged by my school with disorderly conduct, community disturbance, failure to comply and property damage. In lieu of going through the student conduct process, I was given the option of taking a medical withdrawal and receiving treatment for my uncouth behavior.

In the intervening period, I have undergone intensive treatment. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I take medication on a daily basis. I am under the care of a psychiatrist (monthly), psychotherapist (weekly) and a bipolar support group (weekly) I am doing everything in my power to rehabilitate myself.

Regardless, things are not going so well on my end. I am starting to get really nervous regarding my tentative readmission this fall after my mental health withdrawal. I had my psychotherapist send a positive mental health evaluation a while back to the Director of University Counseling Services. He promptly rejected it and he refused to clear me for the readmission process and told me to get back to him in August 2015 (so inconveniently after the FAFSA deadline) with a new evaluation from both my psychiatrist and psychotherapists. At that time he would make a recommendation to the Dean and only then I could petition the Academic Standards Committee. They are making me jump through so many onerous hoops.

Although I am being aggressive in getting adequate mental health treatment (see a psychiatrist monthly, see a psychotherapist one-on-one weekly and a attend a weekly bipolar support group led by a psychotherapist), I am simply terrified that my law school will not let me back in. And if they don't let me back in, it means that I have completely wasted all this time and effort (not to mention money) pursuing a legal career. What recourse do I have if I'm not readmitted despite positive evaluations from my treatment providers? Should I consult with some education law/civil rights attorney about my situation? Bipolar disorder is a disability that my law school cannot, as a private school receiving federal funding, discriminate me against for having pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. I already have anxiety issues and the administration is only adding to it with their shenanigans.

Sorry for rambling. Thanks so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your responses.

[Hexagram]

I'm terribly sorry to hear that your path through law school, an already notoriously challenging and stressful ordeal, has been disrupted and ultimately interrupted by your illness. I really feel for you, even though my diseased response to stress would wash me out of law school after the first week. Congratulations on completing two years. I'm no expert (on anything), but the administration does seem to be excluding you illegally, violating your rights, or otherwise persecuting you. Can you go to any of your professors for advice? Should you consult an attorney? You have sacrificed and accomplished much to come this far, and you seem to be making every effort toward stability. You didn't mention meds; did they put you on any meds, so that you could demonstrate compliance with treatment?

Sorry, this is like very beyond me, but couldn't you attend another school? I'm glad that you have your bipolar under control and able to continue on with living. Good luck!

[Pi_Puppids]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

Sorry, this is like very beyond me, but couldn't you attend another school? I'm glad that you have your bipolar under control and able to continue on with living. Good luck!

I cannot complete my third year at another school without the approval/permission of the original school, which officially banned me from campus like I'm some kind of deviant.

[Pi_Puppids]

Originally Posted by Hexagram

I'm terribly sorry to hear that your path through law school, an already notoriously challenging and stressful ordeal, has been disrupted and ultimately interrupted by your illness. I really feel for you, even though my diseased response to stress would wash me out of law school after the first week. Congratulations on completing two years. I'm no expert (on anything), but the administration does seem to be excluding you illegally, violating your rights, or otherwise persecuting you. Can you go to any of your professors for advice? Should you consult an attorney? You have sacrificed and accomplished much to come this far, and you seem to be making every effort toward stability. You didn't mention meds; did they put you on any meds, so that you could demonstrate compliance with treatment?

Yes, I am on meds. I have been prescribed and take 80 mg. Latuda. In addition, I attend weekly 1-on-1 therapy and a weekly bipolar support group.

[Hexagram]

So you're arguably making every reasonable effort at maintaining stability. What's a FAFSA deadline? Does the Latuda help? Is there any chance that your manias are triggered by the excessive pressures of the law school itself? Did you experience depression during the first two years?

[Pi_Puppids]

Originally Posted by Hexagram

So you're arguably making every reasonable effort at maintaining stability. What's a FAFSA deadline? Does the Latuda help? Is there any chance that your manias are triggered by the excessive pressures of the law school itself? Did you experience depression during the first two years?

fafsa means financial aid deadline. the latuda has helped stabilize my mood and limit impulsive, disruptive behaviors.

i don't think the manias were triggered by the law school itself. i did well in school (~3.5 gpa)

[butterflypower]

I had to withdraw twice due to bipolar. I'm still not even finished with my first semester of college. I wasted $10,000 so far. I'm not in law school, but I go for Nursing. I'm planning on coming back in May or summer. I'm not sure what to say to you to make you feel better, but I'm glad you're getting your disorder under control. I'm still in the process of that. I wish you the best luck!

[Nammu]

Have you heard of Disablity Rights (DR) that is a federal legal disabilty team, there is one in every state. Not all of them have the same name but if you google disabilty rights PA it should lead you to the organization. Under the DR is a smaller group, Protection and Advocacy for the Mentally Ill. PAMI. They work directly for the rights of individuals with MI and enforce the ADA laws.

[Victoria'smom]

I don't no but I would assume they can make a case that they tried reasonable acomidations and it has failed.

[Pi_Puppids]

They have not made any accommodations for my illness, other than pushing me out.

Sounds lke you need a lawyer. Got lawyer?

[Pi_Puppids]

I've consulted a few lawyers, but I have not retained one yet.

I'm worried sick that I'll never be let back in, no matter how much I rehabilitate myself.

If there is faculty with restraining orders against you, it will be a challenge. The university has an obligation to its employees to keep them safe, and those faculty members may very well demand the university continue with that protection.

[Hexagram]

Originally Posted by Pi_Puppids

I've consulted a few lawyers, but I have not retained one yet.

What did they say?

[Here2There]

Seems like getting some legal advice is a good idea. As far as I know you can't be discriminated against just for having that diagnosis, but they need to provide "reasonable accommodations", which might include needing time off for treatment, etc. On the other hand behavior which disrupts others' learning or makes people feel unsafe may make it legal for them to remove someone.

[Crazy Hitch]

(((Pi))))

I really don't know the answer here?

I would think the place where you study has got a Duty of Care Policy that would have been written before you enrolled.

And as tough as it sounds they may have a right to exercise their Duty of Care Policy; regardless of whether or not you had been diagnosed; you were threatening Faculty Staff - which is a no no.

It's a tough one.

You could plead your case.

I mean you are diagnosed now.

And receiving support and treatement.

And I think that you sound like you are in a good place to tackle this on.

But my personal opinion is if it has gone this far, you need support to back your case.

The mere fact that you have "Bipolar" does not exclude you.

But if you were deemed a threat and breeching their Duty of Care Policy they might have the right to exclude you.

I don't know.

I am hoping this is not the case.

I hope they can see that now that you are diagnosed and stable you are highly productive and can make significan meaningful contributions to all parties.

I am sorry that you are going through this.

I hope this situation can resolve.

Just because you are diagnosed Bipolar is far from meaning you can't be successful.

You can be.

[venusss]

I am with Hooligan, it will depend on how serious the damage of property and other things were. Of course they cannot exclude you for bipolar, but maybe they can exclude you for your acts.

So it that case it might be good idea to show regret and will to make it right, rather then merely playing the bipolar card. Yeah, that might been one of the causes, but.... you are still bipolar, meds are known to stop working and bipolars are known to stop taking their meds... so it might fire against you to push this fact too hard without showing honest regret and will to do your part in making things right. That might include paying for the property damage, apologies for people harmed, dunno.... doing some voluntary activity for the school, etc. etc.

[Nammu]

Do check out DR, they have lawyers who deal with theses situations. They help with job, school and housing problems

[hiles.rk]

I sincerely hope that your meds and therapy are helping you cope. I know that the weeks leading up to a new semester always made my rapid cycling a nightmare! I'm afraid to say this because it sounds completely unsupportive, but it doesn't sound like the university is TECHNICALLY doing anything wrong. Having said that, I would still argue that the dean is discriminating because you have excellent grades, and that is typically all that matters. A medical leave is a medical leave. It does not specify if it is for gynecology, oncology, or psychiatry. I would go to the next person in line (above him) and figure out what your options are..

[Pi_Puppids]

If I file an ADA suit against the school, can the school retaliate against me by filing a criminal complaint for my past disruptive behaviors?

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by Pi_Puppids

If I file an ADA suit against the school, can the school retaliate against me by filing a criminal complaint for my past disruptive behaviors?

There is a possibility that they would use their Duty of Care Policy .....

Regardless of what you have filed - you were a threat ....

Hence, you need support - because I think it's this far in the game they will come back at you with anything really ...

Maybe you will get in through ADA - but again they don't "have" to accept anything according to any MI - if you were a threat; you were a threat; and they can use that ...

[Pi_Puppids]

But if I submit an evaluation from a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist that I am stable on my meds and do not present a danger to myself or others, shouldn't that be sufficient?

[Pi_Puppids]

Originally Posted by venusss

I am with Hooligan, it will depend on how serious the damage of property and other things were. Of course they cannot exclude you for bipolar, but maybe they can exclude you for your acts.

So it that case it might be good idea to show regret and will to make it right, rather then merely playing the bipolar card. Yeah, that might been one of the causes, but.... you are still bipolar, meds are known to stop working and bipolars are known to stop taking their meds... so it might fire against you to push this fact too hard without showing honest regret and will to do your part in making things right. That might include paying for the property damage, apologies for people harmed, dunno.... doing some voluntary activity for the school, etc. etc.

Can I be excluded if a psychiatrist/psychotherapist determines that the disruptive behaviors were linked to bipolar disorder and that they assure the school that with proper treatment the behaviors won't manifest themselves again?

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Pi_Puppids

Can I be excluded if a psychiatrist/psychotherapist determines that the disruptive behaviors were linked to bipolar disorder and that they assure the school that with proper treatment the behaviors won't manifest themselves again?

I don't know about your Uni.

But probably yeah, if there was a serious damage and disturbance.

Why count only on shrink and their note? What if they cannot guarantee it for whatever reason? I mean, it would put a legal burden on them, so maybe it's not gonna be so easy to obtain it.

Do you have any regrets for your actions? Are you willing to make amends?