A dyslexic PhD student with quite a recognizable name, James Bond, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against three universities in Australia. Lodged with the Anti-Discrimination Board in New South Wales (NSW), the student alleged that the University of Sydney, the University of Newcastle and Macquarie University have rejected his application for further studies due to his condition.
James Bond is challenged when he reads or writes because of his severe dyslexia. He previously coped in school through audio recordings, a scribe and a supervisor.
"I don't think they want a person with severe dyslexia going forward," James Bond said, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. He also said that he has been "trying to change the status quo." The student wanted to focus his PhD studies on dyslexia legislation in NSW and Scotland.
Dyslexic PhD student James Bond takes University of Sydney to the NSW... https://t.co/ohheDRJsAf (News) #melbourne #victoria
— Melbourne Live News (@MelbLiveNews) December 27, 2016
James Bond cited that Macquarie University rejected him because it cannot provide for a supervisor to oversee that he copes with day-to-day school work. On the other hand, a supervisor was willing to assist him at the University of Sydney, but the school didn't have the means to grant James Bond a scribe.
University of Newcastle was more forthcoming but not helpful in its rejection. It said that James Bond was "academically unsuitable on the basis of unsatisfactory progress." Yet James Bond's IQ is 150. Receiving his bachelor's degree in 2012, the student already has three degrees.
James Bond even received a letter from former Prime Minister Julia Gillard who is an advocate for people with dyslexia. "I'm deeply inspired by what you have done because it affirms everything I believe and entered politics to help accomplish, that discrimination and disadvantage can be overcome if we have the courage to confront them," Gillard's letter to him stated.
According to Yale, one of the myths surrounding people who have dyslexia is that they cannot possible flourish in school. With the right program and assistance, many dyslexics have achieved academic success and James Bond is one great example.
