Accommodations
One subject matter that I felt was VERY important, is the fact that the student MUST make the institution aware of their disability to receive the proper accommodations. "It takes two to make things go right."
Yes, this is very important!Students have rights and responsibilities, they have the responsibility to seek out the appropriate person on campus or wherever they are attending school and provide requested documentation of their status as a person with a disability. If the disability is not known, how can the proper accommodations be provided?
Reference: http://www.maxknowledge.com/elc/mod/resource/view.php?id=6131
How far should the institution go in accomodating students with disabilities?
Kimberlie,
Agreed. The best way to help ANY student is to be fully aware of the context of their learning. If that context is, in some way, different because of the student's disability, providing adequate information to the instructor to adapt things as necessary is critical.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I agree you have too make sure that all parties that are involved in the students care should be aware of all things that is going on. It is not possible to give effective teaching to a student that is not receiving the full attention where is needed.
Crystal,
Hmmm... I just want to clarify. When you say, "we need to have medical documentation..." are you referring to the institution or to the faculty member? The institution is entitled to have verification of the student's status as a person with a disability (in some form -- not ALWAYS medical in nature because not all disabilities are medical in nature), but the individual faculty member should NOT be asking for individual verification of disability.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
You make a very good point. In the education system, at any level, we may be able to observe characteristics of some disabilities, but we need documentation. In order to provide accomodations, we need to have medical documentation of a disability or disorder in order to provide that equal level of access that is provided by law.
Car'Lika,
You are correct. Students with disabilities have rights, but they also have responsibilities, and one of those to to notify the institution of their status as a person with a disability and to request accommodation. The institution (and the instructors) are required to make appropriate accommodations. They are not required to be mind readers! GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
