Diane,
Maybe. There are lifting and movement TASKS. Whether that would be a problem would depend both upon the extent of the individual's disabilities and on what kind of support can be provided in those tasks without jeopardizing patient care or support.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
In the medical field there are lifting and movement requirements that would make their hands-on job tougher if a person had physical disabilities.
Susan,
Well stated -- and I'll give you another argument to lay on those you have already made. Technology and innovation change not only the things that someone may need to do, but also the things that NEED to be done in any given profession. For example, think about the technology used for xrays 30 years ago (remember those big plates they had to slide into the imaging mechanism?), versus the digital imagery used today. The physical skills needed to function in that field today are VERY different than those needed by an earlier generation. Progress gives us cause to hope that, over time, less and less will be restricted.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think there can be times when a student's functional limitations make it logically impossible to pursue certain fields, but this doesn't mean that logic shouldn't be challenged. Every day there are new technologies and options available to make the gap between qualified and unqualified smaller, especially for people with disabilities. Although some people may not see how a student's functional limitations can be overcome doesn't mean that they shouldn't be given the opportunity to try. Just like in educational settings, employers should be willing to make some accommodations as well. I think there can be significant progress in this area if concessions are made by both parties.
Ryan,
This kind of leads back to the question of doing a reality check -- OUR perceptions of what a student can do and their knowledge of what they can accomplish are not necessarily the same. We have to give them the courtesy of making their own decisions.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I WOULD SAY YES, OBVIOUSLY A BLIND PERSON CANNOT GO INTO CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS, OR ARTIFACT RECOVERY. WITH CERTAIN FIELDS I AM SURE THEY KNOW THEMSELVES THAT THEY COUNT THEMSELVES OUT. BUT IN ANY FIELD THEY HAVE A SMALL CHANCE IN SUCCESS I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE IT A GO IF THEY BELIVE IN THEMSELVES.
Sheritha,
I agree. We shouldn't let our own biases or limited experience put boundaries on the students opportunities.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think that everybody is different as far as how they function with their disability, therefore; I believe that everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves in and out of the work place.
Jessica,
It is certainly unrealistic to think that anyone can do something simply because they WANT to (that is, so long as they have the motivation, they can succeed). There are limits (both functional limitations and just the limitations presented by limited talent or ability in a given area) that will make it impossible for some to succeed, no matter how good their intentions. The hard part here is often to recognize that the information and skills that were necessary in a given field yesterday, and are still necessary today, may be applied differently tomorrow due to changing societal needs, new technology, and evolving possibilities. It is important to keep in mind that someone who may never get a traditional job in a given field may still find a niche in the area by applying information differently in the future. And, perhaps more importantly, the decision to continue to look for those opportunities is the student's decision, not ours.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
This is a tricky subject. I have seen in some of the posts here that it is unfair that someone with certain functional limitations cay be unqualified and that it is possible to overcome some challenges. I do agree with this, however I also believe there are some circumstances where functional limitations make getting into a particular job or field very difficult and in extreme circum stances would make someone in this scenario "unqualified".
Ashley,
I think you are confusing a FIELD with a COURSE. There are certainly times when a student's disability may directly impact on their ability to succeed in a specific class (such as your example), but that is different from whether or not they can be successful in a field that may typically ask for that class as a part of the training. There MAY be occupations that are just impossible (like surgery for a blind student), but don't think in terms of matching abilities to the classroom. Think about the big picture.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Unfortunately, I would agree that it can leave them unqualified in fields such as mathematics. As the example given in the quiz about the girl who reads braille and may have difficulty in Geometry, this can account for any student with a disability.
Amy,
The trick to all this is recognizing that, not only can we not know what someone may be capable of, we don't know how he/she will USE what they learn and what they can make of their education, so we have to be willing to let them try.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
That's the key, Marsha. Not that anyone can do anything, but that anyone should have the chance to consider anything!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I believe everyone has to pursue their dreams. It shows respect to the student and doesnt crush their dreams. Some times things happen for a reason. A good example is my favorite Tener, Andrea Bocelli. He is blind and finished law school. He later found a new dream and pursued it. Look at him now?
I can imagine many fields of work that could be impossible for some people with some disabilities. I do understand the importance of letting ALL individuals make their own decision for themselves. Over and over again we hear stories about people accomplishing certain feats that we all thought would be impossible. It is not up to us to judge or decide what is possible or not possible.
Tracy,
There was a time when we saw a lot of disability awareness training around the idea of "disABILITY." The thought was that people with disabilities were (are!) more like everyone else than they are different, and recognizing that was a huge step forward in assuring equal access to opportunity. Looks like you have learned that lesson on your own!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I agree, I let all my students know up front what is expected of them in the career path they have chosen. I have had students with disabilities to overcome the challenges that they may face and do an outstanding job. While I have had students without disabilities that were unable to accomplish the expectations of the program. Without will and determination disablity or not it will be hard for them to achieve their goals.
Gail,
I would encourage you to think of the difficulties these students had as failure to meet the technical and performance standards, rather than a failure "because they have a disability." There might be other students who fail in the same ways without disabilities, and other students on the spectrum who are able to manage. You are right -- no student should be passed along unless they are performing appropriately. But try focusing on the performance, rather than the disability.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
One area where it would be difficult, depending on the disability would be teaching . We have had difficulty with several student teachers who having disabilities such as ASD had a very difficult time even student teaching. I know this seems " unfair" to the disabled person, but then again how "fair" would it be to the students.
