Angelia,
Wow! The young women you describe are not only to be congratulated, but they serve as examples to the naysayers who believe that people with disabilities should not be involved in allied health professions. You might be interested in checking out the website at www.exceptionalnurse.com. I believe they have a place for folks to share success stories about students with disabilities in the field. Yours would be great additions.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
In my career as a medical assistant instructor, I have been a part of quite a few "success" stories.
I have had a student with 2 prosthetic legs that is now working as a surgical assistant. She never let her "disability" slow her down at all!
I've had a student with dwarfism that is enjoying her career as a medical assistant in a pediatric office, as well as a student with deafness also in a career in the medical field using specially equipped stethescopes that allow her to take blood pressures.
In my opinion it is not what a student "can't" do regarding their disability, it's what they are allowed to excell in.
Angela,
Many years ago, there was a disability awareness film that featured seven disabled women talking about their experiences with life. One of them was a woman with spina bifida who used a wheelchair and recounted her experiences of being stared at or avoided by adults, while children were much more open and inquisitive about her physical limitations and appearance. She said that children often asked her "what happened to you?" because they were curious about her appearance and her inability to walk. Her response? "I tell them I'm a mermaid." That was the title of the video.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I do not have a story about a student but I would like to share about one of my best friends who uses a wheelchair because of spina bifida. She is one of the most adventurous people I know and she teaches people she meets everyday to see HER and not her wheelchair.
I do not have any story to share. I would definitely share a story if that helps to make the things better and change some of the stereotype assumptions that exist in the society. However, I would be really cautious to share the story to the extent that only benefits the individual and that does not portray the person as a subject of mercy. Disability is a very sensitive issue for the person with disability and we have to handle this with great caution.
Stephanie,
That's a TERRIFIC contribution to our tales of success. Thanks!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
My story realtes to a student who had a disbility related to their vision. They sought enrollment in one of our computer engineering programs, and upon completion sought me out to work on placement opportunities within the local community. The student was very energetic, always polite and professional, a super-star academically, and incredibly eager to start out on their new career path as soon as possible. They worked through their network of friends and colleagues to find opportunites, but had not been successful up to that point. I was able to use some of my contacts to arrange a series of interviews for the student with several of the employers that we place alot of our graduates with. The student ultimately found themsleves with a bounty of offers, and was able to make a very successful start for themselves in their chosen field. The best part was that they "paid it forward" and have become a source of support for me, and my institution in providing services and opportunities to ALL students, regardless of ability.
Adam,
It is not uncommon for folks who have disabilities to find a structure that works for them and allows them to get past the impact of the disability. Sounds as though your colleague had found that impressive blend of manageable and useful.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I worked with a colleague many years ago in the music business who had dyslexia as well as ADHD. He was the best person on our team, hands down, when it came to accomplishing a task associated with a deadline, no matter how complex or demanding it was. I never understood what made him so good at delivering " on time " until I had the opportunity to work with him on a specific project that required us both to work on a tight deadline and to support each other in order to be successful. He sat me down at the beginning of the project and shared with me that he had a very specific system that he used to manage himself and his partner(s) when working on a project in ordre to ensure that he was able to be successful. As he explained the deatils to me, and answered any questions that I had, it became obvious to me that this was more than just a simple " system " designed to create what many thought was easily won success, but was really a reality management framework that allowed him to inetract with the world on terms that made it possible for him to work very hard at creating success. I learned alot from him over the years we worked together, but probably the most imporatnt thing I learned was to not take something for granted, and not to assume things, but rather to take the time to understand the " why " of a situation in order to be prepared to respond in the most appropriate manner at any time.
I had two young men, brothers in fact, with MD that were wheelchair bound. Absolutely brilliant, talented and creative. They wanted to become graphic designers because they loved playing with computers but in truth that was all their world was composed of because they could no longer do the activities that a "normal" young man could do.
What I loved about this experience is that they were very open with their peers about what they were faced with but it never was a discouragement because they both knew what they wanted to do and they were going to do it. Their classmates went out of their way to help them with anything, not that they needed help but they made sure that they knew that they were just like them heedless of the fact they were in wheelchairs.
It is experiences like this that makes me appreciate the job that I have and how much I love it. Both of these young men are successful in the field; one is an amazing web coder and the other is an amazing designer. It just shows you that life is still worth living heedless of the hardships that you are faced with.
Jamie,
That's a classic example of why we shouldn't limit someone's opportunities on the basis of our own assumptions. Glad to hear the young lady is doing well.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
One of my students in the medical assisting program is undergoing dialysis. I didn't think her health would allow her to make it, she looks very frail. However, she is two quarters away from graduation and I have every reason to believe she'll get thru the remaining quarters with the same determination.
Toshsa,
Wow! Such stories remind us of the triumph of the human spirit.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I had a student enroll into a Healthcare Admin program for her AA degree - no prior college - who did not have a disability at the time of starting. By her first year, she was having so many issues with family. Her daughter had been in prison and released at that time and wanted custody of her daughter who my student was the grandmother of. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and required a double mastectomy. Shortly after that, she found out her husband of 20+ years had been having an affair the length of their marriage. Through all that, she graduated and continued into her BS degree. By the time she graduated with her BS degree, she still had her grandaughter, she had augmentation at her choice, and a new good man in her life. She went through so much medically and emotionally that most people would have given up pretty early in these circumstances. However, she kept on it and used her determination to push her through.
Timothy,
My daughter has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. When she was in grade school and all the other kids were playing soccer, I set her up with the coach to serve as a kind of "team trainer." She was responsible for keeping the stats, keeping track of uniforms and equipment, and so on. She hated it! GRIN She couldn't figure out why she needed to be out there in the hot sun when she couldn't run up and down the sidelines with the rest of 'em! I am glad your story had a happier ending.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Neal,
I am glad you were able to help this student succeed. Dedicated teachers are always appreciated.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have a student who wanted to be a football player His disability certainly will not allow him to play football in a wheelchair. With the acceptance of the head coach, this student was allowed to participate in practices and games.( by being there,cheering the team on) He actually experience a broken bone during a practice session. The student's own motivation and morale helped the team to a decent season.
This story reflex on an experience I had with a student that had been to several different schools and could not comprehend what was being tought or learned. His disability was, He could not hear very well and because of it,he did not understand.The next step was for me, as a teacher was to find out what kind of learning style he had? or what kind of learning style we as a team had to create?since the class that I was offering was based on short term hours that he had already started in two or three other colleges.My attack would be based on two learning styles repetition and organizational skills. The first style of learning would help him remember key terms and many other procedure(repetition).Next would be(organizational). How to study what to study and when.To make a long story short.He passed his test and he also became liscensed to own and operate a bussiness.
rose,
That's a wonderful story of triumph. And the best part of it is that the fact that she had a disability is really irrelevant to her achievement!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
My own grandmother, who was disabled went back at the age of 68 to get her highschool diploma. She had all the set backs of marry very young, to raising a deaf/dumb son, plus 9 other children and learning to live and survive in the rural south. With very little previous education she was determined to do what she encouraged and enforced all her 10 children to do, get a high school diploma.
