Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Laura, I LIKE your attitude -- and the students with disabilities whom you meet will, too! Years ago, the folks from the disability rights movement used to refer to people with "disAbilities, with a capital A". The idea was to remind folks that they were more able than not. You already seem to have that idea. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Rock and a Hard Place?

Deborah, That's it... so long as even THAT information is couched in the context of "this is what is typically done or required." We never know how students will be able to USE the information they glean from us. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Need to Know?

Deborah, That's true. The question is whether you understand WHY that is all that is needed. If that is all that you, as an instructor, would be asked to respond to, then that is all the information you need. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

After the Classroom

Deborah, That is certainly the concern -- that the likelihood of distraction will translate to problems in completing what they start, or completing it in a reasonable time frame. Sometimes, the problem (if it occurs for that individual) can be masked by their focus in a field where timing is not so critical. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Deborah, How do you know they are not likely to be successful? And successful at what? Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Being Fair with Time

Candis, Again, I am not sure what you are saying here. Are you saying that you let all students stay as long as they like (even after the class ends) to finish your tests? That would be fine. But if you are saying that you give students with disabilities who have been cleared for extra time until the end of the class period, even though most students don't need that much -- that is NOT extra time. I'm confused by your description. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Candis, I am not sure what you are suggesting here. There are no limits to equal access. It either IS equal or it isn't. Can you explain? Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Attention Deficit Disorder

Gary, I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea that the symptoms of ADD/ADHD can be controlled through diet. Rather, I think there is evidence that for some students, consuming certain substances can be a trigger for MORE distraction, and eliminating those triggers can help the student self-monitor. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Attention Deficit Disorder

Gary, Well said -- and well noted! You are right, of course. How much someone can focus is often dependent on how much interest there is in the topic at hand. What is the "payoff" for getting the task done. Sometimes, the student brings his/her own motivation to the table. Sometimes, it can be provided by a creative instructor who helps the student see the importance of the task in the grand scheme of things. Dr. Jane Jarrow

Jane Jarrow

Discussion Comment

Learning Disability

Mary, No -- it would be wonderful if there were some standard list of accommodations-by-disability, but it doesn't work that way. We assign accommodations on the basis of need, not on the basis of a label. Not all students with the same disability will have the same need of support. If I were you, I would push for more information to be made available from the institutional personnel charged with disability services. You don't need to know the label so much as you need a better understanding of the impact of that student's disability. Then, too, you can talk to… >>>