Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Melanie, This is a great post with great examples. Your questions are very interesting. I can only provide my opinion here, which is, if a student understands that the course they are taking will not meet the qualifications needed to be certified but makes the decision to proceed, then that's their choice (again, as long as the institution if truthful and providing full disclosure). Otherwise, we have a real ethical issue here, don't we? In the last case, some outside of the box thinking could be very beneficial to both the student and the institution, right? Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Severity of Disability

Robert, I think that each institution tackles faculty training in differing ways. For instance, part of my role is to train the campus Disability Services Coordinators and provide them with the materials necessary to facilitate faculty and staff training on our obligations related to accommodating students. There are no "real" costs there other than time and effort. Other institutions spend lots of money to provide specific training on issues related to ADA or special needs students. Regardless, the ADA post-secondary environments is a moving target. Things change so frequently. Just when I feel like I have all my campuses on… >>>

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Darien, Hard to say Darien without knowing exactly what the student's functional limitations are. I'm also not familiar with what the technical requirements are for the Network Administration program. Without knowing that information, I would (as the ADA administrator of the campus) request a meeting with the program chair, the student and invite anyone who may wish to join as the student's advocate (maybe a parent, spouse, voc rehab counselor, etc.) to go through the curriculum assignment by assignment. Discuss reading requirements, provide examples of tests, quizzes, projects, group work, computer programs and other technology used/required, etc. I would initiate… >>>

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

After the Classroom

Chelsea, Be careful not to put people with a certain diagnosis into a "box". The same diagnosis may create varying functional limitations for several different people. Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Severity of Disability

Catherine, You are exactly right. Section 504 and the ADA actually provide very little support in what an institution can or cannot do. It's the lawsuits and "decisions" provided by the Office of Civil Rights which provide us guidance on what are considered "best practices" in the field and how to limit liability. Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Severity of Disability

Chelsea, You are correct. An institution may have to provide more accommodations to someone with a more serious disability to "level the playing field". Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Latasha, I agree there is a fine line, however, usually, we can only work with what we have at that moment. We want to set appropriate expectations. I've seen so many changes and advancements with technology over the last 15 years, that nothing surprises me! Great story and thanks for sharing. Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Shannon, I couldn't agree more! Great assessment. Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Greg, That's great! I love hearing stories where "we" are doing the right things at the right time for our students. Sarah Smoger

Sarah Smoger

Discussion Comment

Reality Check!

Loleta, Great insight. There are certain career in which a particular licensing agency or other governing agency has disqualifiers. Just off the top of my head, I know that many police departments (years ago) required that an officer candidate had a certain vision requirement. If the candidate could not wear contact lenses or afford surgery to correct it, they were not considered. These types of positions are still out there, but by far are less and less the norm. Sarah Smoger