Memory Loss Disability
We ran into an issue recently with a student who is a Veteran and suffered a head injury during combat in Afghanistan. The injury causes him to have very little to no short-term memory. He can't remember the name of someone he just met.
How can an educational institution make accomodations for him, as the ability to remember what he learns in class or through studying just isn't there? What techniques can we use to assist him with learning the material and passing his classes?
Kristin,
Ouch! Memory may be THE hardest thing to accommodate for students with disabilities at the college level. The best I can suggest is that you try to determine whether the student really isn't retaining anything, or whether he understands and can use/apply the information, but simply cannot bring it back, on demand, in testing situations. If he IS able to retain information and use it appropriately, this may be one of those few instances in which it might be appropriate to allow the student to use word banks or cards with notes during testing. If, in fact, new learning has been so significantly impaired that standard instruction is simply not going to be effective for him, then I think everyone may need to face that and consider alternatives to traditional schooling.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
