The school has an obligation to give the student all information so the student can make an informed decision. It is not the school's job to determine if the student is fit for his chosen field of work.
Michael,
I fully agree. I think that the college should be realistic in their conversations with ALL students, disabled and not -- and then leave the decision up to the students.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Dr. Jarrow,
I think that the college should be realistic about providing them with the most accurate information possible regarding employment in a particular field. With that being stated, the decision should be left up to the student. Obviosly if a student pursues to work in a field it is because they are passionate about making a difference in this area. For istance, there are a lot of military members who are returninb back from combat who are diagnosed with PTSD. Despite this disability, some of these students are pursuing degrees in the counseling field to help others who face similar situations.
Mike
Angelia,
I read an article the other day about the part that expectations play in success. The gist of the whole thing was that students who had people behind them who EXPECTED them to do well were more likely to succeed than students who had people behind them who hoped they would do well. You EXPECTED good things, and it sounds like she delivered. Bravo!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
A student should be told of the requirements (physically and mentally) of the field in which they will be studying. It is not up to the institution to decide who can work where.
I had a student a few years ago who was a dwarf. She was smart as a whip and her skills were spot on. Some of the other instructors were unsure of her ability to work in the medical field, but honestly I saw in her the passion that it takes to be in this field. I am very pleased to say that since her graduation, she has been gainfully employed in this field! I would like to feel that maybe I played a part in this with her!
George ,
What you have described is exactly the process of decision-making that we allow... encourage!... other students to do. And that is exactly WHY it is the appropriate course of action for students with disabilities. GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
No a college does not have the right or obligation to make that kind of judgment. The student has a right to have his or her own hopes and dreams even if they may not meet the college’s expectations. In the end the student may learn it was the right or wrong decision. And just because one choice is made it doesn’t mean it has to be the last choice, they can always change their minds after proceeding further down the path of their life.
Cesar,
Sounds like a good plan. The trick is to treat them just as you do everyone else -- which includes allowing them the courtesy of making their own decisions.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I would explain pro's and con's and let them make their own decision. Who am I to stop anyone from pursuing an education?
Jamie,
I agree. We cannot PROMISE employment to anyone (disabled or not). It would be inappropriate to restrict opportunities for a student with a disability because you cannot promise them employment, when everyone else gets to take their chances!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It is not up to a school to provide special treatment to an diabled student with the odds of getting a job once they have finished their studies but that is also true for a student that is not disabled. You cannot lead a student on employment offers that may or may not be available.
Gary,
I couldn't agree more. We cannot guarantee employment for any student, disabled or not. It would be unfair to turn away students with disabilities because we don't think THEY can be employed when we don't do the same examination of chances for everyone.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Cynthia,
There is a (sometimes slim) difference between making sure the student knows what problems they may face and telling them that this "might not be the right choice." So long as no one crosses the line from advising to restricting options, it should be fine.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
We need to provide the same access to Career Services for all students. We need to explain to every student that there are no guarantees for employment.
Yes, I do feel that it would be the right thing to carefully let the student know that the career might not be the right choice. However, as they are adults, it would be up to them to make the final choice. An adviser would be the right person to voice concern about the career choice.
Patricia,
Yes, we learn from our triumphs and our failures equally. And everyone should have the chance to find out for themselves.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It is up to the student to decide whether they will or can be successful. We learn from the decisions we make and we also learn from them.
I agree as well. We cannot turn them away but it is the responsbility of the school to give them the facts and information to make an informed decision about their career choice!
Gil,
I think you are right on target. The goal should be to equip students with all the tools necessary to allow them to be independent -- in their decision-making and in their actions. Our perceptions shouldn't inhibit their optins.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think that we owe to a student to provide them the best set of tools possible to make informed and well thought out decisions. We should give the student as much factual information as possible that acurately and realisitically portrays the parameters of the situation that they are evaluating. My "opinion" about a student's ability to succeed is not honesty, it is a perception based on opinion and may or may not accurately reflect their abilities and the outcome.
