Need to Know?
Since every accomadation should be on a case by case basis to ensure proper access for the individual, I think there are times when more information can help and I would think that in most, not all, cases this could be achieved through the interaction with the individual seeking access.
Michael,
It's always a good idea to have a dedication person (outside of the admissions department) who knows about disabilities and the law to facilitate the "process" of acquiring accommodations. Students tend to feel much more comfortable about disclosing and have more confidence that their needs will be met.
Sarah Smoger
Currently at our instituition, the only way we know that we have a student with a disability is when that student comes foward. For some of our students we find that information out after they have been dismissed from the programs. Once a student provides our admissions staff with this information, it is sent to our instructors who will be teaching this student. I would like as much information from the student as possible, I believe that this would help our staff make every effort to accomadate the student.
Generally, faculty and staff are given minimal information from the disability service provider about the nature of a student's disability. Letters of accommodation typically verify that the student is disabled and list assigned accommodations. Do you think more information should be shared? Why or why not.
David,
You have the right idea, for the wrong reason. HIPAA regulations don't apply here, but FERPA regulations do. And FERPA says that sensitive information should be shared only when there is a "legitimate educational interest". As an instructor, you don't need to know the details of the student's disability -- only that he/she HAS a disability and will need appropriate accommodations as assigned by someone there at the institution.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Due to HIPAA regulations and compliance, it might be illegal to share more information than is provided. Although a student is disabled and requires accomodations, that does not mean the student's medical history is an open book. It is a matter of upholding respect for and dignity of the student.
Paul,
I tend to agree. Faculty only "need to know" information if they could or should do something different as a result of that information. Knowing the medical or legal details of the student's disability doesn't change the necessity of making the assigned accommodation.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
In my opinion, The need to know information concerning medical or legal details of a student's disability is actually not necessary information for the classroom teacher to know. After all it is not the teacher's responsibility to establish the criteria for the accomodations; instead the teacher merely needs to provide the required accomodations and document the provisions for their implementation.
Nathaniel,
That student lives with the possibility of an acute allergy attack all the time, not just in class. It is up to the student to decide how -- and to whom -- he wishes to reveal his condition.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
yes there should be more information provided, allergic reactions are ignored many times as disability. I have experienced this with a student and was never made aware that he might need assistance with his epipen.
Virgie,
Are you suggesting that you could give accommodations sooner if you knew about the need for those accommodations in a more timely fashion? I certainly agree. But I am not sure what you means by "save" in the sentence above.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
HI... Vickey...I totally agree. Sometimes there is a lack of communication. When we find out certain things about the student it's too late to help. If we have better communication we can SAVE/ACCOMMONDATE a few students.
Shanita,
Emergency situations can occur for students with and without disabilities. Instructors should know what to do in case of an emergency. They don't need to know the specifics of THIS student's disability. It is precisely because of the situation you describe that we DON'T give more information. Because if you knew that student a "just" had a learning disability, while student B had a history of epilepsy, you WOULD treat student B differently.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think in my opinion that is a difficult question to answer because I can say yes and no. The reason that I'm saying that is because the faculty and staff should have a little more information since they are given minimal information from the disability office. Since the letters are only saying that the student is disabled and it list assigned accommodations. What if something happens in class and the student is having an occurrence and the teacher doesn't no the full knowledge of the disability that the student has and I feel like they are left in the dark.So I do feel like more information should be shared that will help the faculty and staff to be more knowledgeable.
Annette,
If it makes you feel more comfortable with the legal restrictions, I feel confident in telling you that anecdotal evidence suggests that having more information than necessary is almost always an invitation to exclusionary treatment.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Only in retrospect it seems that information up front perhaps would have served me better, but it does run the risk of creating biases. This seems a little difficult to determine. However, If test proves we are mostly biased my having information up front, and it makes us less helpful to the student and even a hindrance, then less information is more.
Sherry-Lynn,
Sorry -- I am going to have to disagree with you all along the way. You DO need to know what accommodations are needed (so that you can provide them) but you generally do NOT need to know the nature of the disability. To suggest that knowing the nature of the disability might compromise the student's right to confidentiality is simply wrong. To suggest that students are obligated to discuss how and why they need the accommodations is contrary to law. This is about equal access to education, not about special programming.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Dr. Jane- Absolutely, as a teacher I need to know what accommodations are needed for the student in my class. Past that specifics as to the nature of the disability might actually compromise the students right to confidentiality. Having said this , I personally believe that the student has the right and maybe the "obligation" to discuss with their teachers how their accommodations assist them in the access to the course and in the end hopefully to the student being successful.
Olin,
I agree with your premise -- that the info should be shared only as needed and that disability is a private matter. But just for the record, the HIPAA laws (what you refer to as medical privacy) do not apply to disability-related information at the college level.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
More information should not be "shared" due to the extreme personal nature of many of the situations. Especially where issues with the Health Care Laws and Medical Privacy are concerned. A "Need to Know" rule should always be applied.
