job requirements
Contracts with medical externships outline physical demands that the students must meet to be able to complete thier clinicals at the facility. As a teaching instituation, how do we inform them they do not meet the criteria due to thier disability?
Duane,
No, not all types of disabilities are dis-qualifiers, nor should they. We need to look at each student's disability and request for accommodations on an individual basis. Not all disabilities affect people in the same way. We need to objectively look at the functional limitations caused by the disability and weigh that against the competencies of the program.
Sarah Smoger
I am a new CDL instructor and I know there are many health limitations that could stop a student but that does not mean that all disabilities could be something to fail them on their physical. I have driven many years and have had some minor physical disabilites that I had to overcome. I agree that disclosing the requirements of possible jobs and then letting the student decide how they can overcome them is the way to approach this.
Erica,
I think the best way to approach this with the student is to do a "full disclosure" of the requirements. Discuss with the student what the technical requirements are, competencies, etc. Discuss what accommodation needs the student may have and from there, do your due diligence in determining if the accommodations would still allow the student to demonstrate the requirements of the setting/position. Let the student make the determination.
Sarah Smoger
I agree with the validity of this question. 'Reasonable accommodations' are not always possible to make--both for an externship or the profession itself. I think there 'are' legitimate circumstances which would prohibit an individual from assuming a particular job...because there are no reasonable accommodations the work setting would allow for the individual to carry out the job.
I have searched through numerous binders and cannot locate a way to handle such situations.
Jennifer,
Absolutely! It's essential to be proactive and to try and "fish" out any potential accessibility issues before they become a problem.
Sarah Smoger
I would think it would be important to talk with the facility as well as the student in regards to the demands. Set-up a meeting with the two so each party has a chance to meet each other and see the location and actually visualize the demands they may be asked to do
Stephanie,
How do you know that any student you send out can meet such physical demands? And what does the contract say about appropriate accommodations. Until you can answer those questions, there really isn't anything to talk about!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
