Jane Jarrow

Camille, That kind of matches with the old adage about success being two thirds inspiration and one third perspiration! GRIN Whatever the percentages, both are important. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Camille, Job shadowing is a great way of giving folks (with and without disabilities) a true idea of what the job involves. It helps them to "self-select" if this is an appropriate place for them Dr. Jane Jarrow

RONDA, Excellent example! Just yesterday I was watching a commercial about someone who noticed that folks regularly have their arms full and thus cannot use their hands to open doors and has invented an option that will allow folks to open the tailgate of their car with some kind of foot pedal! That, too, might be Universal Design. It may or may not help people with disabilities, but it does make the tailgate more usable to a lot of folks -- and that is what it is all about! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Camille, Whoa... wait... back up! The question is whether the "required tasks" are really required, or whether they are traditional. And whether you are talking about not being able to accomplish the task or just not being able to do it the same way everyone else is. This kind of sweeping statement allows LOTS of room for people to get forced out of opportunities. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Daniel, Absolutely! Most students with disabilities have found coping strategies that allow them to do what needs to be done, it just gets done through alternate means. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Courtney, Hmmm... It sounds as though you believe that providing support to a student with ADHD in class could draw away from the time and attention given to other students. I haven't found that to be the case. In fact, the same kind of clear direction and focus that helps an ADHD student stay on task is *often* useful for other students, as well. It isn't so much a question of individualized assistance as a restructuring of presentation that generally does not interfere with the flow of the class to all. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Michele, I am pleased that you have had such positive experiences, but it comes with a (small) warning. Students with disabilities should (and do!) appreciate the opportunity to attend school just as much as their peers. We don't need them, and shouldn't always expect them, to be MORE appreciative or to strive HARDER. They are more like other students than they are different! Dr. Jane Jarrow

jason, That's a sound philosophy. There are other issues involved here, as well (like not requiring anyone to take medications if they choose not to -- and there are good reasons why some choose not to!). But the larger issue is just what you have indicated. You take the student as you find them, and make every effort to provide a safe and productive learning environment. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Kristina , Wow! That is one of the bet testimonials I have ever read for a student with a disability -- the idea that the young woman was not only every bit as good at MT as her sighted colleagues but, perhaps, even better because she made use of information that others didn't bother with because THEY could see. Thanks for sharing, Kristina! Dr. Jane Jarrow

Camille, Those are the kind of stories we like to hear. It would be interesting to know what kind, if any, accommodations he worked out for himself so that he could interact comfortably with his clients and make sure he was giving them what they wanted. Any hints? Dr. Jane Jarrow