Jane Jarrow

Brent, That's a reasonable concern and a good question -- will there be jobs available for people with disabilities who need a little longer to accomplish the same thing, or accomplish the same goal through alternative means? There are several possible answers that come to mind -- first, the laws that protect equal opportunity in education also require equal opportunity in the workplace (and the fact that a worker is not disabled doesn't mean they are good at the work to be done! GRIN). Then, too, the person with a disability may find new and unanticipated ways to use the… >>>

Jeffery, I buy the first half of your argument, but I'm not so sure about the second half. You are right -- NOT ALL students with disabilities want, need, or should have extended time. It is provided if, and ONLY if, there is a need for more time to assure equal access. As to providing extended time for nondisabled individuals, the faculty member has the option of doing that any time he/she chooses. It has always been that way. But the reasons why nondisabled students might legitimately request and be granted extra time have nothing to do with the legal… >>>

James, I think you made your point in the first sentence and then contradicted it in the second sentence. You are right -- the law promises no more protection to one group than another because it sees all people with disabilities as the same (that is, you either ARE a person with a disability or you are not; there is no qualitative judgment involved). BUT, colleges are thus required to provide the same level of accommodation (that is, whatever is needed for equal access) for all students with disabilities, whether they are familiar with accommodating for that kind of disability… >>>