James,
That's a wonderful example of how stereotyping comes about when the student has a known disability -- and why so many students with disabilities are hesitant to have others know! In such other-than-academic issues, it may be that the best thing the instructor can do is to lead by example. If YOU treat the student as a fully functioning member of the class, and don't differentiate in your treatment of that student, hopefully others will take their cue from you.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
