Disability Disclosures
I feel that students with disabilities should make their disability known with their educational setting so that any avail. resources can be put to use in order to assure success can be accomplished.
I agree and think that schools have a valid stand that if the student is not upfront with such disclosure it would exempt the school from liability. It is not reasonable to expect schools to 'pre-date' an arrangement of reasonable accommodation.
While I believe it is honorable for the school here, which stated it still tried to make post-accommodations, it may set some type of precedent for schools to demand that all schools follow suit--if such actions ever get established through 'case law.'
Vincent,
Sad, but true. Accommodations are generally not retroactive. Students with disabilities have rights, but they also have responsibilities. If they aren't willing to come forward, there is little we can do to help after the fact.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I work at a small college that has no "disability office" and while we have published guidelines on this topic, students often don't read them or take any initiative to deal with their issues. Often they bring this matter up after the fact, after the class is complete and they did poorly or even failed. Once identified, we provide necessary accomodation, but sometimes they want some kind of compensation for the past, but there is no recourse for them.
Ereca,
I don't disagree. Students have rights, but they also have responsibilities. Sometimes the problem is that they don't know HOW (or to whom) to make themselves known. Sometimes the problem is the timing in asking, or the fear of repercussions that lead them to withhold notification. You should check out what the process is on your campus and see if there is anything that needs to be done to help.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
