Jane Jarrow

Helmi, I'd be very careful, Helm, about assuming that because of disability, someone cannot do something. It isn't that you have to ignore the obvious (such as "a student in a wheelchair cannot run up stairs and that is something a paramedic must be able to do), but don't assume that the typical way things are done are the only way things are done. That same student in a wheelchair who cannot function as a paramedic may be able to function very effectively as a physician -- because not all physicians are involved in life-or-death actions. We all have a… >>>

Randy, You are right. Manifestations of ADHD can often be interpreted as inappropriate behavior, and a lot of individuals find themselves in trouble because of those behavioral issues, rather than because of their job skills. There was a classic article written years ago called, "Keeping Your Job At the Water Cooler," that talked about how the ability (or INability) to fit in to the social setting of the job place was the downfall of many individuals with LD and ADHD. I think your idea of having the Career Services folks address these issues straight up with students is a wise… >>>

Deborah, You walk a very thin line here. Before you make assumptions about a student's ability to be hired, you need to consider the possibility of reasonable accommodation. There are also some sticky issues surround the development of technical standards. While reference to lifting 50 lbs may be the traditional way to state this requirement, it doesn't necessarily mean it is logical. Does that mean if the student lifts something that weighs 53 pounds, and drops it, it will be considered OK? I recognize that proprietary institutions that are evaluated (by accrediting bodies) on their placement rates face special challenges… >>>

Nick, Yep... you are almost there. WHY the student needs extended time on a standardized test will differ with the type of disability. For a student who is LD or ADHD, they may need to understand, gather thoughts, explain (as you suggested). For a student who is blind, the extra time may be needed just to ACCESS the test (using a screen reader, dictating and checking answers through assistive technology, and so on). But you are right -- on a paper-and-pencil test, it would be extremely rare that extended time could not be made available as a reasonable accommodation. Extending… >>>