Absolutely. One of the things that most of us don't think about re: technology is that it can be used in so many different ways that it provides tremendous versatility -- and freedom -- for students with disabilities, because they can use it to accomplish their ends in ways that the rest of us may not need. The first month that my daughter had unlimited text messaging on her phone, she sent/received over 3500 messages. For her, it wasn't a texting system. It allowed her to "talk" to anyone she wanted, whenever she wanted. She couldn't yell down the hall to answer me when I called or to get my attention, but she could text. She would text me from her room to tell me she was ready for a milkshake! GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
That's close to the experience I had. This is another reason why teachers need to be open to new technology. It is so useful in so many capacities that we don't even realize.
Jessica,
It is, indeed, exciting to see students with very significant disabilities who are able to achieve great things. On a purely personal note, I have to tell you that my daughter has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair, and her speech is not very clear. She can, however, text faster than any three people I know, and it serves her well as a means of communication, whether talking to friends at a distance, or the teacher sitting across the desk. Given encouragement and a chance to experiment, these students often find their own way of making things work!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
My story involves a student with cerebal palsy. He was in a wheelchair and had difficulty speaking. I never thought he wouldn't achieve his goals and I wanted to share his story because his determination just blew me away.
He received a full four-year scholarship to the university I was teaching at by writing an incredible essay about his life. He shared the essay with me, and being an English teacher, I was incredibly moved.
Throughout the quarter he had difficulty conveying his thoughts through speech in class at times and he would write things down or type them. That accommodation worked well for us.
My class asked them to do a project outside of school and do interviewing. While I was a little worried at first, the student was incredibly excited to try something new and he exceled.
Needless to say, at the end of the quarter, he shared with me the fact that he wanted to be an English teacher and now he only has one more year to go!
I am glad you have seen students achieve success, Danielle, but it worries me a little that you seem to think they have been successful because they somehow got passed their disability. The disability is still there. They are successful WITH the disability, not in spite of it. Your posts all seem to focus on the idea that students with disabilities should learn to be just like everyone else. It isn't going to happen that way!
I am fortunate enough to see these success at graduation every year! In our technical school we have various students with learning disibilities who may have been in specialized class throughout their childhood, but as adults have proved that persistance, hard work, and a good support system was all they needed to succeed!
Donna,
WOW. That is a wonderful example of "closing a door, but opening a window." It is also a reminder that students may use the information they learn from us in LOTS of ways, and we do them a great disservice if we limit their opportunities because we focus on their likelihood of success in a narrow context. Thanks for sharing.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
This was not necessarily a student, but is actually my goddaughter.
She is dyslexic, and when she was in high school all she wanted to be was a teacher. When homework assignments took a "normal" student one hour to complete, it took her four hours. But she took that time and graduated and left high school with very good grades.
She completed college, graduated and prepared to take the tests required to become an elementary school teacher. She simply could not pass them in the time requirement. She tried and tried, and eventually thought she would have to give up her dream of being a teacher.
Long story short, she is now a senior instructor in the banking industry! She is responsible for training all tellers for a very large and well-known bank. She has a classroom, students, prepares lessons, all of the things a teacher would do! You can't find a more caring, hard working teacher as her. She loves her students, and loves what she does.
Success is out there for any of our students, with or without disabilities. They simply cannot lose hope, and we cannot let them. Success often can manifest itself in so many different ways. But we have to be fair in providing the educational opportunity to all.
Michele,
That is as good a place to start as any! We'll wait to hear "...the rest of the story." But it sounds as though you have a process in place that works. The student knew how (and to whom) to make the request and you did the research to find out how best to provide the accommodation that will allow this student to pursue her goal and her potential. That's a pretty good story right there! GRIN
Jane Jarrow
Oh my. I don't have any stories. I have just been presented in my capacity as the Dean of a small massage college, with my first student requesting accommodation. We have just this week purchased the necessary FM transmitter that is compatible with her hearing aid for use in the classroom.
The only story I have thus far is the process of researching and then purchasing the equipment to meet her need.
Andrea,
I have a colleague who used to give a presentation called, "Of Blind Mechanics and Hemophiliac Industrial Arts Teachers I Have Known." He said that, in truth, he had only known one of each, but it was enough to teach him never to make assumptions! I wonder if your blind student ever was able to find a "niche" position, doing well the things he COULD do well. That's always the key, even for those of us without disabilities.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
