Jane Jarrow

Sidorva, Those are great ideas. There is nothing that helps students -- disabled or not -- be realistic about what will be required of them and of their personal chance of success than allowing them to see someone in action doing what they think THEY want to do!!! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Theresa, Not quite. The idea is that the purpose of accommodations is NOT to assure success, but only access. It isn't that they won't succeed without effort (which, obviously, they must put in). The problem is that they will not have a chance to succeed unless we first provide equal access. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Stacy, That's it exactly. You focus on providing them with the same information and support that you would provide to any student -- and for just the same reasons. How their disability (if it is one) impacts on their learning is a separate issue from the learning opportunities you present. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Xavier, That's a great start! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Ashley, You are right. The trick is to make sure that everyone (disabled or not) has the same information going in, so that they can make their own, informed decisions about how to proceed. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Xavier, I certainly can't argue with that! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Ashley, You seem to have missed the point here. How much time is allotted for any test, by any faculty member, is arbitrary. It is simply the amount of time the faculty member allows for students to finish the test. The idea is that all students will have the same opportunity to demonstrate their skills/learning. For students with some disabilities, in order for them to HAVE the same opportunity, they need additional time. Go back and review the concept again, please. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Ashley, I think you are confusing a FIELD with a COURSE. There are certainly times when a student's disability may directly impact on their ability to succeed in a specific class (such as your example), but that is different from whether or not they can be successful in a field that may typically ask for that class as a part of the training. There MAY be occupations that are just impossible (like surgery for a blind student), but don't think in terms of matching abilities to the classroom. Think about the big picture. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Xavier, There is nothing like the voice of experience to make the point! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Xavier, Don't forget that the laws are civil rights statutes. The protection is given equally to anyone who falls within the protected class. You either ARE a person with a disability or you are not. What kind of help that protection will translate to may, indeed, be more or less depending upon the nature of the disability. But the promise of protection from discrimination is a constant. Dr. Jane Jarrow