News that a professor at Memorial University refused to wear a sound-transmitting device for a hearing-impaired student has caused an uproar among advocacy groups for persons with disabilities.
William Sears — a 20-year-old MUN student — was set to take History of Espionage, which was being taught by Ranee Panjabi. However, when he asked Panjabi to wear a sound-transmitting device that allows Sears to hear better, the professor refused, citing religious reasons.

Sears posted on Facebook about the incident.

Kelly White is the executive director of the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities–NL.“Absolutely shocked,” is how she describes her reaction to the story.White says it’s a full-blown case of discrimination.

The questions on a lot of people’s minds are, what kind of religious beliefs don’t allow for the wearing of a sound-transmitting device and why has the university been so mute on the subject. The only thing the university has said officially is that it has reached an accommodation with the student. Since the incident, Sears has switched to another course.

“Accommodation is certainly not what happened here,” White says. Sign this petition to call on MUN to rectify this situation Immediately.