Yes I think this is so important. we must pick and choose the IMPORTATNT information to get them ready for the field when they are finished.
I could not agree more with you Dr. Jarrrow. Its all about the facts and that can take away from some of the worry.
true. We need to get our hands on every piece of information when it pertains to an attack against our country. We must always keep our eyes on the prize. thank you.
I am with you on this with you. Trust and believing in the teacher is the biggest part of learning!!!
Amber,
I couldn't agree more. What makes the difference between a student sharing/not sharing is the perceived attitude of the instructor. If the student feels "safe", chances are they WILL share more. And if not -- that's their choice!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
No, it is not necessary to share details of a student's disability with faculty and staff on the professional level. As noted elsewhere in this forum, if the staff or faculty member is in a position to help and sharing the information is beneficial to the student, it is okay. It should be kept on a need-to-know basis, however, to help eliminate bias and judgement, and protect privacy. A student can always choose to personally share more details of their disability with staff or faculty, and in most cases it should be left up to their discretion.
Heather,
That's a great way to be open and to encourage learning about disability-related needs early on. You want to be sure, though, that you are offering a PRIVATE discussion of such issues after class. You don't want everyone coming up to form a line and discuss things while others wait for your attention.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I definetly believe that there should be more information shared so that the instructor knows how to approach they situation. One thing I do is I ask the first day of class if there is anything that I need to know about my students that they may need to discuss with me after class.
How about we just ask the student what we can do to provide fair ACCESS and remind them that SUCCESS comes from within ???
Vickey,
I agree. There is rarely a need for the faculty member to know EVERYTHING that is in a student's file. We guard that information carefully to protect the privacy of the student. Instructors only need to know as much information as is pertinent to understand what THEIR role is in working with the student.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The documentation that a student submits along with their request for accommodation is extremely personal and confidential. Sharing of this information should be limited. This is one of the reasons having a defined process for requesting accommodation and making faculty and staff aware of it is so important.
Jessica,
Excellent, Jessica... and please don't feel that anything I said would suggest that it is inappropriate with you to talk to the student directly about their disability if they choose to share more. The intent is simply to make it comfortable for the student to share as much (and only as much) as is comfortable. An open and inviting instructor will hear more about everything from one student's disability to another student's work-related commitments, to another student's difficulties with housing or transportation -- and all of it can be helpful in your being better able to understand the student and his/her performance.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I do not think that more information needs to be shared than just what the accommodations are. That way, the student has a sense of privacy. However, in my experience, some students with disabilities will take the time to discuss with me either their disability or give more specifics when it comes to the accommodations. It all depends on the student and we should make them as comfortable as possible, in regards to the amount of information they want to disclose about their disability. That way, they feel confident to do their best.
Sue,
I am wondering if you need more information about the student's disability, or more information about the student's NEEDS. I don't know how active the disability services office is at your institution, but I would hope that they would be providing you significant direction about the necessary accommodations for each student. If you want to follow that up with further discussion directly with the student, it may provide you with further insight. Generally, though, specific information about the student's disability should only come from the student, not from anyone else.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I agree with Dave. As we have read, many disabilities are unseen. It would be beneficial to have more information to be better prepared in handling our preparation to afford each student the same environment for success.
Stacie,
Right again, Stacie. If the faculty member is given extraneous information about the student's disability, it may lead them to speculate about the necessity or appropriateness of the assigned accommodation. That decision should be left to someone who knows the full situation (including the legal end of things) and has full access to the student's file. In other words, the disability service provider assigns the accommodation. The faculty member just needs to help make it happen.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Not really. I think it would leave too much room for interpretation by the faculty and staff. It isn't up to them to determine if the disability deserves the accommodation.
Beth,
I couldn't agree with you more. Part of the reason we have traditionally been so private about disability-related information is so that we don't set people up to worried by a label, instead of by the facts.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I feel that providing minimal information to only those with a need to know is the best way to ensure privacy and confidentiality for the student. By focusing on the accommodations for the student,the staff and faculty can ensure that the student has access to the opportunity to participate fully in their education. This keeps the focus on providing equal access rather than on the disability.
Elysia,
As a general rule, it is easier to make the decision as to whether to share when you keep in mind WHY you know what you know. Students with disabilities share private information about their disability when that sharing may, in fact, be to their benefit (that is, when there is something that could or should be done to help them). If the person you are sharing with is in a position to help, then the sharing may be useful. If that individual cannot act on the information in a positive way, there isn't really a reason to share at all.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
