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Humanity has progressed quite a lot when it comes to human rights, respect, tolerance, and the like, but there is still a ways to go as inequality and discrimination is still a thing—quite a big one, actually. And the internet has become a bit of a platform for people to share such experiences.

Shira (@shirainspired) recently went to Twitter to ask people what was the most unnecessarily ableist thing a teacher ever did to them. For those unaware, ableism means discrimination and social prejudice against a person with a disability. This is usually based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.

Image credits: shiraisinspired

A good number of people responded to her, sharing some of the most heartbreaking experiences they ever had in school.Bored Panda has compiled a list of some of these responses, which you can find, vote and comment on below.

#1

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Busy_D
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who had an asthma attack and could barely run the small distance to my room before almost passing out, i gotta say this is stupid

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dogdog
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as someone who didn't have an asthma attack and could run to my room i also gotta say its stupid.

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Doggo Froggo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hated that. I once needed my inhaler (not badly but I was uncomfortable) and the lady in the school office wouldn't give it to me because I didn't need it badly enough???? I have really mild, under control asthma but I can still occasionally have trouble breathing and that was one of those times.

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sylvantic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was having an asthma attack at school and the nurse yelled at me for not having an inhaler. My asthma is super mild usually and I hadn't had an asthma problem in years. My doctor said I didn't need one, but sure, go yell at the kid who's wheezing in your office. It was also finals week.

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P-Rex Mama
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At my school the nurses had to hold onto my inhaler and EpiPen. They also could refuse to give either to you if they didn't think it was necessary. After one nurse refused me my EpiPen I called 911 from my phone (I was 17 at the time). She just kept pushing me to drink water and I knew I didn't have a lot of time. I was told they ended up getting there right after I lost consciousness (school was close to the hospital and police station). The nurse finally gave me my EpiPen before they came in. I ended up just keeping spares in my backpack after that.

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alwaysMispelled
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My fam told me to ignore that rule and keep mine on me and if the school ever tried to get me in trouble my family would've flipped out.

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Liz Malcom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I experienced the same thing at every school I attended and when a teacher saw me using it and reported me I told the nurse and principal they could pry it from my cold dead fingers and if they didn't like it I'm sure my mother, an attorney, would love to discuss it with them. They shut up.

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Delia Collins
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I left the school in an ambulance THREE times because of this same stupid policy!! Once, another student found me collapsed in the hallway because I ran out of air before I made it. I could have died.

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Roxanne Monroe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son's school has this policy. I had to get a note from his doctor & we had to show the nurse he can do it on his own. Before that I told his teachers to keep it in his backpack. I have asthma and no way is my kid going to try and locate the nurse while having an attack. Crazy.

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Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With my students (adults) I encourage them to keep a spare in their locker but not anything like that

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Isle_of_stressed_pilots
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LMAOO MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DID THIS TOO! I was like f that, and kept my inhaler in my backpack. When the school found out they got me in trouble and called my parents in to have a meeting. My parents got sooo pissed at the school lmaoo

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Karen Grace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both the inhalers and epi pens can be used to get "high". We didn't know that until my son had an inhaler stolen from him.

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OrangeChicken
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, at my old school they did this too. Now I'm able to keep mine on in highschool (Where kids would steal it and attempt to get themselves high)

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JLH
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember a fellow student having an asthma attack during a debate competition at another school. I had to run all over the unfamiliar school for 20 minutes before I found the teacher with his inhaler (took the stairs 7 times). Finally he got it and was fine. Ironically I was so out of breath that I could barely speak during my next tournament. Totally lost that round.

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Meh Man
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also have asthma and my school does this, they also make you give your epipens to the nurse but the nurse is not allowed to use it on you, its the stupidest s**t ever

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Bored Cat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same! Once I got to middle school, I had to get a doctor’s note every year saying I can carry it around school.

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CAELYN MORALES(Cheeto)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! my school does this. I think it's because in some ways it guess could be seen as having drugs and inhaling them.

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BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a stupid "medicines must be kept safely" policy issue. Sure, maybe a kid with anxiety doesn't need to keep Xanax on them but time sensitive meds (needed within 10 min) need to be an exception.

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Jean H.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I REFUSED to make my son do this for his inhaler and I threatened any teacher with a lawsuit if they tried to take it away from him. He's had asthma since age 1. He knows more about it than the damn school nurse!

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KT
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's weird, all the schools i went to never had such a dangerous rule

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sturmwesen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is weird. I always kept my inhaler on me. It's not like you get high on most. We don't have school nurses here and I never felt this was a problem.

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Karen Grace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually they can get "high" on it. An overdose will cause an adrenaline rush which makes your heart race, you get shaky and really light headed, like your floating kind of light headed. The kids (non asthmatics) were after that feeling.

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Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sometimes institutions are just too stupid--they run on rules instead of common sense.

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mac
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how bureaucracy over complicates and create new problems out of fear and ignorance. Someone probably figured inhalers could be used for illicit drugs. Simple solution… issue a school approved ID/permit to student with inhaler. If any school "authority" asked then about the inhaler you show the ID. Simple solutions people!!!!!!!

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Katinka Min
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A child died because of this unnecessary insanity. I can't even conceive how someone would get the idea of doing that, much less turn it into a rule. Do headmasters seriosuly think they or the nruse shoudl decide if someone lives or dies??

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Faith Hurst
Community Member
3 years ago

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Znaya
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't blame you, it's what I would have done 😀

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Caroline Driver
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flake out on the floor wheezing fit to bust and going blue in the lips in front of a teacher, see how much of a good idea they think it is then.

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Mary Tonningsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son's middle and high school (high school!!!!) had the same policy... so dumb...

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Lynn Morello
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There have been children die because the school insisted that the nurse hang on to their puffer. As well as teachers not believing the child was having an asthma attack.

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Picture Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My youngest son nearly died out on the field during gym class cuz he was having an asthma attack & the gym teacher thought he was faking when he said he needed his inhaler from the nurse for his asthma. Good thing one of the other students knew my son was telling the truth & told the teacher he needed to call for help now & ran to the nurses office himself to get her.

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California Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. I also kept my ibu in my pocket when it was that time of the month.

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Nyneva Kyte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/after-son-s-death-ontario-mom-urging-schools-to-let-kids-with-asthma-carry-puffers-1.1580999/comments-7.463792

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Karen Grace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In our local school you could bring in a Doctor's note saying you had to keep it with you. My grandson was able to keep his in his backpack.

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Persp Gold
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

after watching Rudy on Bob's Burgers, I know how dumb this is

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Help in Homework
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every student knows that writing assignments are a back-breaking activity. Spend a minute to place an order and, in return, get a lot of free time you could spend doing things that are more important to you now. https://helpinhomework.org/

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Doc Sooter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Students who need to have meds on them are supposed to file paperwork saying that they have this medicine. As a teacher I get paperwork on every student in my classes that have allergies, medical conditions that could affect classroom behavior, cognition, or that could be life threatening, but importantly here, I get told which kids are supposed to have their meds with them. I've watched idiot kids give their idiot friends their meds because, " they wanted to try it." My school won't let kids come to school if they need to have meds on them but don't fill out the paperwork because they aren't allowed to have those meds in that case and they could die if they don't have them.

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

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Most (if not all) schools that I know have a policy where inhalers/nebulisers and any other form of medication including epipens and insulin are kept at the front office. In some cases the school will allow the teacher to keep it in a locked drawer. Not logical if these things are needed immediately but unfortunately that is their rules.

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#3

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Billy The Kid
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teachers should be encouraging this. If i have a student that is a fast learner and well ahead of the others i will ask him/her to help those that are behind. This helps me out and it gives the student a sense of pride that he/she is doing something good.

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#4

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Piper McLean
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would report that if it was me ( then I would probably chicken out tho)

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#5

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Billy The Kid
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You should of had a word with her after class and tell her how degrading it was her acting like that.

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#11

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Busy_D
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My teacher yells at me for doing this too. She actually told me it was "Her time" and everyone should only be focusing on her even though she was just barely talking about random stuff to a different student.

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#17

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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ScarlettofHydraIsland
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s horrid. But if they trigger your gag reflex, take revenge and throw up on her.

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#21

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Busy_D
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no right way to do art. And this teacher did nothing but stunt creativity and shame kids.

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#23

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Lexi Mitchell
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Get the Cotton out of your ears” is a really old saying, I’d actually bet the teacher didn’t know or remember this kid had hearing aids.

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#24

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Hotrobot
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel this post so much. I was diagnosed then it was ignored, my mother years later still denied me ever being diagnosed.

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#27

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Amanita muscaria
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just dumb! You are a amazing artist if you are careful and you draw neatly! Teachers should be proud if their students are so neat and draw like that!

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#30

Unnecessarily-Ableist-Thing-Teacher-Did-Thread

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Piper McLean
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because someone seems lazy doesn’t mean that there isn’t something else going on. It’s hard not to think somethings like this but that’s still no reason to publicly shame someone

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Note: this post originally had 51 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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