Informing the instructor
Sometimes in the middle of a quarter, I will have a student inform me that they have a disability and need help. It is better late then never for them to come forward, but how do I encourage them to come forward sooner so their grade does not suffer so much.
Daniel,
That's exactly why we have a policy that doesn't allow for accommodations to be retroactive. It's the student's responsibility to provide the letter of accommodation to their faculty. We remind them that it's better to be proactive and provide the letter, possibly not needing the accommodation(s) rather than wishing they had. We don't allow for "re-do's".
Sarah Smoger
I had a student that had an IEP but did not tell me. He did fine the whole class until the final exam which he didn't do well on and then he told me and I had to let him retest but now he knew the answers. I told him in the future to make sure his other instructors knew ahead of time.
Determining the acommodations is one of the most valuable pieces to this puzzle. There is no fault placed on the student but on the program in general. I am able to pass most of my students once I'm able to identify some type of special need. And its not always meds. I used that as a genral statement. The reason I pointed out my students with disabilities is because those are the ones that I am in the office trying to save after the fact. I also have the basic student that refuses to study or follow guidelines.
Janice,
OK. I think I understand the situation better. You give tests that mimic the conditions that the students will face on their Board exams, so failure to pass your class means failure (or limited possibility) of their being certified on their Boards. BUT... I have to believe you are still overgeneralizing. I would be incredulous if the only students who have difficulty with the more difficult test format are students with disabilities, and that the only reason they are having those difficulties is because they aren't "taking their meds." If your course is designed to help them prepare for the next step, then determining that they may need accommodations (that they have never needed/used before) is very valuable. But faulting them for not managing their conditions more appropriately seems a little hard.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think maybe my reply was too general. I work at a for profit school. My class is setup to teach them how to pass the board exams which are taken after passing my class. The students with disabilties are not the only ones passing the exams. But once I identify a problem student I am usually given information that points to some type of disabilty that has not been focused through out the eighteen month course. Examples ADHD, post tramatic stress or bipolar. And they all revolve around not taking meds or some type of personal issuse that has stopped them from taking meds.
Janice,
And are students with disabilities the only ones who ever have difficulty passing your exams? It seems to me to be a real stretch to suggest that disability is the reason these students are not able to complete the program unless every other student passes your tests -- in which case, why are you giving the test in the first place? Sorry. This doesn't track.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Since I am the last leg of the program I require long testing times two to four hours. In some of the earlier programs they may receive a two hour exam but that exam is not counted if they have an overall GPA of 75%. In my course not passing one of my exams causes them to repeat the course
Janice,
I am missing something here. If the student has successfully made it through an 18 month program, why would the fact that they have a disability make it impossible for them to graduate at the end?
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I work in a program that takes eighteen months to complete and I am the last class. Sometimes no one has been informed until its time for the student to graduate and he is unable to because of some type of disability
Todd,
I'm with you half way here. You are right. Instructors are not intended to be mind readers and it is the student's responsibility to let you know, in a timely manner, if they have need for accommodation. But I worry about the suggestion that you feel you need to change what you are doing with/for everyone because of what the student with a disability needs. It shouldn't be that way. You may have to make changes for that one student, but you should be able to proceed as planned with/for everyone else.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
As an instructor, it is better to know before class starts that you may have to change the way you do things normally so that any students that have issues dont get left behind a faster moving class.Students also have to be up front and tell you about their situation, not all of the responsibility falls on the instructor.
Peter ,
Hmmm... "right to know" and knowledge of how to access may be two different things, Peter. Does the information provided each term include instructions for how students can access support for their disability-related needs? If so -- no problem. If they simply say, "we know you have rights as a person with a disability" but they do nothing to facilitate accessing those rights, it may be time to review the procedure.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Dr. Jarrow,
At the beginning of every term, my institution has as part of its Standard Operating Procedures to mention the ADA so that everyone is made aware of the act and that the institution does make resonable accomodation for those in need.I does not directly ask if their are students with accomodmations, but only provides that "right to know" information and acts as a "reminder" for those who have accomodations to their learning plan.
Alexandra,
Do you have a statement on your class syllabus? Try something to the effect of "If you have a disability and my need some accommodation in order to fully participate in this class, please come and see me privately as soon as possible. Accommodations cannot be arranged until we have had such a conversation, and I want to make sure you have every opportunity to move forward successfully." You aren't making any promises, but you are inviting the conversation. Maybe that will help.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
