Nathan,
You've just reinforced the main point here -- the fact that someone has a disability does NOT mean that he/she is incapable. I' glad you have had such a great model to reinforce that idea for you.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Yes i think they should be allowed, Why not? if they are able to complete the course, who is to say they cant get a job. There are alot of strong willed ppl out there. Providing that they know what the demands for the job are and they can perform then fine. We have a student that has lost the use of one arm and the other isnt fully functional. Despite this he has so far been able to complete all the tasks. I teach in a technical field that requires for most ppl 2 hands.
Craig,
That's true... and that is why the laws are coordinated to assure that there is a seamless availability of support, as needed, to protect the access of people with disabilities. Just as is true for nondisabled studemts, we don't want them to make it through school as the only goal. We want them to be able to USE what they learn in the world of work.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Students that I have taught who have physical disabilitys have to overcome many challengs and along with that know that they will overcome the same in the workplace. after doing this course I feel that thier are many guidelines in place to ensure that these people are given the same opportunities to succeed in the work place and are protected under law to do so.
Thomas,
I don't know what field you teach in, Thomas, so I don't know whether there would have been reason to question whether he would be able to complete the work (in other words, is it a hands-on field or something classroom oriented?). But your statement is a remind that a student in a wheelchair is pretty much like any other student sitting down!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have a student presently in my class that is in a wheelchair, and he has proven that with his determaniation he has been able to complete all tasks assigned to him better than most students that have nothing wrong with them.
Whoops! You have fallen into the trap of being over (and overly!) protective of students with disabilities. If you had said, "Only after the demands of a career are thoroughly explained should ANY student be allowed to enroll in physically demanding programs," I would have a problem. To suggest that students in wheelchair should have such an explanation but not worry about the others would seem to indicate that you don't think students in wheelchairs SHOULD enroll in such programs, and you hope to make them see that -- but you are ready to let them proceed if they really want to. We don't take that stance with other students who may or may not be cut out for the field.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Only after the demands of a career are thoroughly explained should students in wheelchairs be allowed to enroll in physically demanding programs. It would be unfair if the particulars were not explained and the student was not able to make an informed decision.
Bernard,
Have you ever seen the poster that reads, "Get a job doing something you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!"? It is true for all of us... given the chance to pursue something of interest, we will work as hard as we can to make it a reality. The process of accommodating students with disabilities is all about making such opportunities, not limiting them.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Jennifer,
I'm with you on this one. We don't have the right to judge the job market, or make assumptions about how the student will use the information. We leave other students to make those decisions on their own, and students with disabilities should be given the same respect.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I believe every one deserves an opportunity to be successful in a field that they enjoy doing. It builds self esteem and confidence within them selfs and helps build a positive outlook on life.
It is completely appropriate to allow a student in a wheelchair to enroll in a physically demanding program of study regardless of potential for a future job. It is not our job to dictate what is or isn't in the realm of possibility for any student. If the student can fulfill the requirements for enrollment and meet the requirements of completion safely then there should be no question of admission.
That's a good point, Michael. We tend to think about college as being a place to train for the world of work, but sometimes we forget how big that world is. I know that career schools, particularly, are used to thinking of their training as translating directly to employment. But the truth is that we hope folks will have the opportunity to grow in their professional life. How many of the folks reading these posts trained, at the undergraduate level, to do what their current job description says they were hired to do. There is more than one way to USE the knowledge gained in school!
You must keep in mind what the disabled student expects to get out of his or her education. Perhaps they intend to apply the knowledge they learn in a non typical way, such as managing or further study.
William,
It is always gratifying to hear such reports of success of students with significant disabilities in fields that seem to be so far outside the realm of possibility. It reminds all of us that we shouldn't make assumptions about the A-bilities, based on the DIS-ability!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Yes, I believe that every person deserves a chance at success.Who is to say that a person in a wheelchair cannot get a job in a physically demanding job.I teach motorcyclemechanics and have had several students in wheelchairs complete their trainning and join the workforce.
You have given exactly the right answer for exactly the right reason, Edward. If we are going to treat all students the same, regardless of disability, then we give all students the right to make their own decisions as to how they use the information they learn. THAT is what these laws are all about!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Facilitator
I believe that it is appropriate. I just finished teaching a class with a student in a wheelchair and I found them to be just like every other student. Now as an class facilitator I would like to say that I will instruct anyone who is willing to learn and it is not up to me what they do with their education once they have it. I know I have had students not in a wheelchair that do not plan on using their education to get a job. They just do it for their own reasons.
Paul,
Oh, I like that -- "If they believe they can, so should I!" I may have to steal that line. It is nice to hear someone express such optimism about student potential.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I like to see all of my students overcome challenges. Those with recignized disabilities can be inspirational to others. It certainly is not my position to say they will not be able to use what they learned after graduation. If they believe they can, so should I.
