Students who do not disclose their disability...
Over the last term, I have had at least three students who did not disclose to me that they had a disability, yet I believe they had one. The first girl began crying at the mention of a test. The next day (the test day), she requested to sit directly in front of the board so that she could feel as if she was the only one in class. Another student of mine failed a test (after making 100s on all of her quizzes) because she froze from the mention of the time given to take the test. Lastly, one of my adult students, a female, never wrote essays because she could not seem to understand what they were asking of her. This really confused me at the time, but now I believe that even she had a disability.
After reading all the materials about students disabilities I feel like I am more aware of the definitions and meanings of their disabilities. Being that there is so many types of disabilities we all need to be aware of it and this is great materials to assist us with that. Thank you
Kenyatta,
First, I highly suggest against bring it up to them that you think they have a disability. Instead, address what the student is struggling with in specific terms and then ask how the institution might help them. What support services are available to them. Start there.
Sarah Smoger
So if a student obviously has some form of a disability and you bring it up to them and they deny that they have a disability then what would you do?
Ebony,
WOW! I'm so surprised that the college didn't get any negative feedback from the student's with disabilities, or worse, a complaint from an outside agency. Under the law, we are required to keep student's information about their status as a disabled student, what their disability is and accommodations confidential. Breech of that confidentiality under circumstances in which a faculty or staff person does not have a legitimate educational need to know is incurring unnecessary liability.
Sarah Smoger
I think some students shy away from disclosing their disability because of embarrassment. Some because of fear. I know at one college I attended, all of the students with disabilities and accommodations were obviously separated from the rest of the students when it was time for test taking. At the end of the test, the students with accommodations came back to the auditorium to review the test with the rest of the class. I can definitely see how that can be embarrassing.
Michael,
I know an instructor who got ahold of a button maker (the kind you can use to make pin-on buttons that say whatever you want. He put the international access symbol on it (the blue outline of a figure in a stylized wheelchair) and superimposed the words, "I am an accessible instructor". He got all sorts of positive comments -- and appropriate outreach from students!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
That's a tough situation to be in. You want to ask them about it but you may be crossing that line too. If they dont have a disibility and you ask them, they could get offended and then that matter may turn into something even bigger. I would say just make it known in your class that you are always there to talk about anything and that you will do your best to help every student out with any issues they have. Your there to help them excel and achieve greatness. "ASK ME QUESTIONS!!"
Michael,
You have a legal obligation to provide equal opportunity, and you are certainly not required to ignore the obvious. But under the law, people with disabilities are not to be treated differently unless they request that they receive such consideration. In that regard, visible or nonvisible makes no difference.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Form my understanding, if the disibility is visible we should not ignore it, we still have a moral obligation to provide those with disibilities equal opportunities.
Amber,
You are right -- students aren't obligated to disclose their disability, and sometimes they have good reasons for not choosing to do so. While we want to provide a "safe" environment for them so that they feel comfortable disclosing, it is probably NOT wise t assume that if they haven't disclosed they need counseling.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Maybe its true they do but if they do not wish to disclose they have a disability, you can not make them. Do your best to help them and maybe point them in a direction for perhaps counseling with out implying you think something is wrong with them.
Samara,
It might be useful for you to sit down with the powers-that-be at your institution, share these experiences with them, and ask what kind of resources are available through the college that might have been helpful for these students. Sounds as though the institution needs to come up with a more visible way of providing a place for such students to identify themselves and ask for assistance.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
