Has anyone that has experienced discrimination due to disability at your University made a formal complaint (either via lawsuit or external mediation involving a lawyer)? In my case, the internal complaints did nothing to help as they all closed ranks. I have a pro-bono lawyer who has assessed my case to be very legitimate and suing the University is one of the options we are considering. Of course once the complaint is lodged with the courts, there is an opportunity for a mediation prior to it going for hearing in the court.

My question is has anyone experienced discrimination to the point where you had to seek external help? What has happened after that? I worry that this might make my advisors refuse to supervise me and I am aware that it is not possible to complete a PhD without supervisors. Other supervisors are not working in the same area.

I also worry that later in future they will continue to discriminate me, but just in ways that are not strong enough to be taken to the courts. Also, since they have already closed ranks, they can always assess my work to be poor regardless of its merits and I would have no one to turn to for support.

But if I do not complain, there really is no other option for me.

Please share your experience here.

Thank you.