Jane Jarrow

Chrissy, Agreed. The problem is that technical skills are not always clearly thought out or stated. Part of our job may be to help the student understand what must be done, how it is TRADITIONALLY accomplished, and then help them discern how they might accomplish the same thing through different means. Dr. Jane Jarrow

John, The trick is to get comfortable with seeing students with disabilities as CAPABLE, rather than DISABLED. Emphasis on abilities helps to remind us of the options available, rather than just the limitations. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Chrissy, You are right. The information about a student's disability is private and sensitive. But it isn't that students have a RIGHT to confidentiality. Rather, they have a right not to be subject to discrimination. If information about their disability is shared too broadly or with the wrong people, it could LEAD to discriminatory treatment. Dr. Jane Jarrow

John, You are right. Either one knows the information or he/she doesn't. For students without disabilities, extra time does not provide an advantage. For students WITH disabilities, not having extra time can create definite DISadvantage. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Chrissy, You are absolutely right. The obligation is to provide equal opportunity to the CHANCE to be successful. The success comes from the student, not the accommodations. Dr. Jane Jarrow

John, If the intent of those standards was to keep "certain folks" from being able to work in the field, there is a STRONG likelihood that they are not appropriate! GRIN Just because something is stated as being a technical standard does not mean that it is legally defensible as such. That is the hard lesson that a lot of institutions (and faculty) have learned in recent years. Dr. Jane Jarrow

John, I think you have said exactly the right thing, but a little more vaguely than I'd like to see it stated. It is not up to us to make the call for these students because IT IS NOT UP TO US TO MAKE THE CALL FOR ANY STUDENTS! The whole point is that students with disabilities are more LIKE other students than they are different, and they deserve the same respect -- which includes a recognition of the fact that they are capable of making their own (informed) decisions. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Fredrik, Can you tell me more? What do you think the pitfalls would be, or what would you do instead? Dr. Jane Jarrow

Robert, Exactly right -- and THAT is what the laws regarding equal access for students with disabilities are all about. The idea is that we make sure such students have full access to all the same information and training that we provide to any student, and then we have faith that they will find a way to put it to use for them -- as does any other student! Dr. Jane Jarrow

David, Good observations. There are lots of reasons why individuals might manifest what seem like unusual behavior. That is why it is best to stick to responding to what they do, rather than assuming WHY they are doing it. Dr. Jane Jarrow