Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Charles, I am guessing that you are suggesting an IEP -- Individualized Education Plan. Whether or not parents allow the school to be identified in such a way often hinges on how well or poorly the school system supports kids with disabilities. You are the best judge of whether your son can manage comfortably in the classroom without the supports. If he can, I'm with you. Keep him out of the "system". Just remember that not having him identified within the special ed system does not make his disability go away. There may be a time, in the future, when… >>>

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Kenneth, In this day and age of technology, there are ways of enhancing hearing for a student who is hearing impaired, and ways of monitoring sound through visual means as well. I am not suggesting that "audio engineer" may not, in fact, be unrealistic. But it is the student who should decide that, based on what you tell him/her about the field, not based on what you tell them about your view of their chances. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Eric, You have expressed what I am sure are well-meant concerns, but your conclusions would have the impact of limiting opportunities for students with disabilities, something we are bound (by law) to avoid. While it is perfectly appropriate to make sure that students -- ALL students -- are well informed about job opportunities, when you start focusing on protecting students with disabilities from (what you consider to be) bad choices without setting the same restraints on nondisabled students, you cross a line that needs re-thinking. You have to find a way to be honest without being negative. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor

Michele, That is as good a place to start as any! We'll wait to hear "...the rest of the story." But it sounds as though you have a process in place that works. The student knew how (and to whom) to make the request and you did the research to find out how best to provide the accommodation that will allow this student to pursue her goal and her potential. That's a pretty good story right there! GRIN Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Attention Deficit Disorder

Gerry, Your personal experience lends powerful credence to your hesitation about prescribing medication as a first choice, rather than a carefully weighed option. But the fact remains that while not all children with ADHD need medication, parents who choose that route are not uniformly shirking their parenting responsibilities. There are reasons why medication, in conjunction with behavioral management, may be the best thing for some kids. While I don't think we should be quick to decide the medication is the answer, I don't think we should be so quick to discount the possibility of it being PART of the answer,… >>>

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Rock and a Hard Place?

Stacie, Sounds like a plan! GRIN Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Need to Know?

Stacie, Right again, Stacie. If the faculty member is given extraneous information about the student's disability, it may lead them to speculate about the necessity or appropriateness of the assigned accommodation. That decision should be left to someone who knows the full situation (including the legal end of things) and has full access to the student's file. In other words, the disability service provider assigns the accommodation. The faculty member just needs to help make it happen. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Being Fair with Time

Stacie, I agree with you, but that isn't always an easy "sell" to faculty who are used to worrying about issues of "fairness". It SEEMS like everyone should have the same amount of time. What we have to convince them is that in order for everyone to have the same OPPORTUNITY, some need more time. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Need to Know?

Beth, I couldn't agree with you more. Part of the reason we have traditionally been so private about disability-related information is so that we don't set people up to worried by a label, instead of by the facts. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Equal Access

This is a tough one, Beth. I recently had a significant discussion with folks from a Pharmacy program about the necessity of being able to read -- not just the computer, but physician's handwriting, etc. I thought the gentleman I was speaking with made a pretty solid case. The question is complicated by the fact that, for career schools, your overall success is dependent (in part) on the hiring record of your students (something the traditional institutions don't have to deal with). I think my best suggestion would be that you sit down with the student and ask him/her how… >>>