I agree,
We so often equate certain professions with specific preconcieved duties. For example nursing with needing to possess the ability to lift a stated amount of weigh, or lift, bend etc, when in actuality what if the desires of the individual is to pursue research nursing
That's a great point, we have to be realistic, I believe that the students deserve to know the reality of what it may be. If a student wants to go in dental assisting and they are blind. They might have some difficulties in that field and should be made aware of that.
yes, certain occupations would be not be available to some students with disabilities- a blind person would not be able to be direct patient care person due the need for sight to assess a patient.
I believe it is the institutions responsibility to ensure equal access to all students. We also have the responsibility to not do financial harm to a student by enrolling them in a program where we have knowledge that their disability will prevent them from carrying out the job duties, therefore potentially making them unemployable in the field
Short answer is yes. But it will all depend on the limitations (Physical/Mental) and the type of position the student is trying to qualify for.
Yes - Depending on the disability, there are absolute technical skills that are required in certain fields of study that may make it "logically" impossible for the student to complete certain tasks. This is a discussion that should be done at the front end of the student lifecycle so that the student is not put into a program that would not be beneficial for them to pursue.
That's a tough question for me to answer because I believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue what they want to do in life and there are several examples through out history of people who have overcome what seemed to be insurmountable odds to achieve great things. That said, I still think we should be realistic with students and the functional limitations of their disabilities. Institutions should be up front about what the potential career field will require of any person going in to that field and what assistance we can provide in an educational setting to students with documented disabilities, but allow the student to determine if they still wish to pursue that field.
Yes I agree that "functional limitations" can indeed prevent someone from pursing a specific field. It is very important that an honest, thorough description of the mental and physical requirements to hold such a position are given to the prospective student.
While the mental/educational limitations would be harder to enumerate and even more difficult to turn a student away from a career choice (without seeming to be judgmental), physical limitations as more easily quantified.
For example, a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse career will have certain requirements for the physicality of the profession. A person who is unable to lift an object/ person of a certain weight, or does not have the function/use of all their appendages may not be able to safely and competently demonstrate the ability to perform as is necessary in that position.
A blind student can never perform a stick welding job satisfactorily due to obvious limitations. Nor could someone who is prone to seizures due to exposure to bright ultraviolet light. Some career choices can, however, offer these students alternate opportunities where they can excel in a related field. The trick is to find where their abilities can be best utilized without compromising their desire to achieve their goals.
Greg,
I agree. Our job is to provide the student with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about enrollment. If we've done our job and the student meets all of the admissions criteria, the rest is left up to the student.
Sarah Smoger
Otis,
Of course, I agree. We need to make sure that we have all the information from the student about their limitations and need for accommodations while at the same time, providing the student with all the information they need to make an informed decision about enrollment.
Sarah Smoger
Melanie,
Yep. Many times there are licensing or certification processes which outline specific qualifications.
Sarah Smoger
Tawnyn,
I'm not sure how much encouraging we should be doing in this case. I would prefer to provide the student with all the necessary information for the student to make that determination on their own (best case scenario of course). The last place we want to be is one where a student says "you don't think I can do it and are trying to make me do something I don't want to".
Sarah Smoger
Jarrell,
Absolutely. But let's not rule out "outside of the box" thinking in how we might reasonably accommodate a student.
Sarah Smoger
The pursuit of the education and the pursuit of the career afterward are two different steps. It is the school's responsibility to inform the student of career opportunities after graduation, and to detail the wants and needs of the industry's employers. However, if the student still wishes to continue with the training and if no other laws are blocking such action, I don't see how we can stop them. I try to remember that the American Dream is still alive and if a student wants something and is willing to work hard for it, then anything is possible.
I do feel as though there is a such circumstance that a student's functional limitations can leave them "unqualified." Allowing a student equal access can be a misunderstood logic. Many times have a hard time identifying "equal access."
There are many safety-sensitive job functions that require a certain set of criteria to be capable of performing.
Truck drivers are one. Airline pilots.
The ability to see, hear, focus, comprehend, analyze, react, have full usage and mobility of limbs, etc. are all crucial abilities in order to do the job safely.
Working in transportation education, we often encounter students who may have physical limitations that prevent them from being qualified for the job. On the other side, we also encounter students who may be physically highly suited to the functions of the job, but have other limitations that prevent them from being able to do the job safely.
A lot need to be considered when choosing a field because there can be limitations but everyone deserve fair access
In my opinion, I don't believe a person's functional limitations will make it "impossible" to pursue a certain field as it relates to education. The issue may arise in obtaining employment. It may be impossible for a person in a wheelchair to manage a restaurant, but it is not impossible for this person to earn a degree in management.
