The Human Factor
This is not a complete "success" story, but it did show me that I can not make assumptions about what an individual with a disability can and cannot do.
We had a blind student who was adamant about getting student employment in building services cleaning guests rooms. My thought was that he wouldn't be able to accomplish many of the tasks because of his visual impairment. He was adamant that he could do the job, so we let him show us how he would accomplish the tasks of cleaning a room. Although it took him significantly more time to clean the room and there were a few issues (eg. smudges on the mirror, a piece of paper in the corner). He did a fairly good job and completed some tasks surprisingly well. The time that it took him to complete the job was an issue though and he was not hired for the position.
My institution operates a fire academy, with that being said it is a gruling course in which we lose almost 25% of the class. A few years back, we had a student with one hand and from the beginning we did not think that he would have made it throught the program. He was given the appropraite accomadations for his disability. Keeping this short, I can tell you that he was not one of those 25% who did not complete the program. It was amazing to watch this student climb a ladder, drag a rescue dummy through a maze, operate a hoseline and complete all of his required testing. When I see current students not "giving thier all", I let them know of this student and his determination of wanting to be a firefighter.
Often, folks have stories to tell about the one student with a disability whom they never thought would make it who did, in fact, achieve their goals. Would you care to share your "success" story to help dispel some of the stereotypes we all carry?
David,
Again -- the thing I learn and relearn every day is that we should never make assumptions about what someone will or will not be able to achieve based on our own, limited experience.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I went to college with someone who was legally blind. His major was Television Engineering. Although he had a difficult time at first, he was able to learn and memorize the intricacies of wiring to assemble audio and video boards. He went on to a successful career in the television industry.
Nicholas,
It's a shame when a student has to live with the doubts of others, as well as their self-doubts, about the prospects for success. And, as you suggest, it is wonderful to see them find their niche and make it through.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Because of my position, I do not have a great deal of information about students' disabilities nor do I see them through the academic process. I do however see many student as they are beginning their programs and then I see them at graduation.
I have seen numerous young students start programs and when I meet with them, they will have their parents or other family members with them. It is hard to see but I have had many parents openly discuss how unlikely it is that the student will make it through the program because they have dyslexia, can't read, can't focus, has never been successful in school, etc. These students sit at my desk with their head down, shoulders slumped, nervous to look me in the eye. They have lived with the belief that they will never be successful.
It give me the most satisfaction to see these students walk across the stage at graduation with their head up proud. They have a new found confidence. Whether these student's have a diagnosed disability or not, they are the success stories that I like to see.
Paul,
Actually, massage therapy is one of those fields that has traditionally been open to people who are blind. It is ALL about touching and feeling, so the lack of vision is relatively unimportant to the practice of the field.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I knew of a student whom enrolled in the Massage Therapy program who was blind who graduated with honors and on time!
ELIZABETH,
Always nice to hear such success stories!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
i have a family member who is extremely dyslectic and has gone on to not only graduate with his Masters degree in drafring but also owns a successful internet company ans is a high ranking officer in the Ky National Guard. never once has he allowed hs disabilty to keep him from success.
Kerry,
Are you aware of the deaf player for the Seattle team who made such a splash in the media during last season? Derrick Coleman has become quite a celebrity, as a great example of someone who most would give little credit to, but who has made it to the top of his field.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
When I was a high school teacher I helped coach the football team and we had a player who was deaf. He had a sign language guy who went to classes with him and came to practice. All of us coaches were doubtful of his ability to compete at the level we played but we treated him just like every other player. By his senior year he was starting in the secondary and was one of the leaders of the team.
Geneva,
It is always encouraging to see students persevere and succeed.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
See this just blessed my soul. I love this story and others need to know that you don't have to let your disabilities keep you down.
Thanks for sharing.
We had a young man in our class that had a a disability, but he was very smart and never asked for any help from no one. The only problem was that he was a little slower then others. Needless to say this young man finished his education and walked down the aile to recieve his degree. I get motivated more when I see a disabled person doing more and accomplishing more then a person that don't have any disabilities.
Ellis,
Yes -- and no! GRIN In the K-12 system, it is both law and practice to individualize instruction to help students achieve at whatever level is appropriate to them. But it is important to remember that (a) while students may learn coping strategies that let them perform at their utmost, it is not our goal to "cure" them of their disability; and (b) at the college level, that kind of individualization is neither the norm nor the intention. 504 and the ADA are civil rights statutes, not special education laws.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I taught elementary school for several years and worked with many children with disabilities. Each one, with effort by the child and the teachers, showed growth specific to them. Each child was given an individual education plan (IEP) which built on the child's strengths and weaknesses. Nothing more rewarding than seeing these children succeed.
Michael,
That kind of determination will do it every time!!!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Dr. Jarrow,
There was one student who had a physical disability that created numerous challenges in his educational pursuits. For instance, in order to successfully pass the class, the student had to type 40 wpm with 5 or fewer errors. Due to the students physical disability, he had limited use of his fingers but this limitation did not prevent the student from passing the class. He would come to class early and stay late to practice typing. When it was time for him to take his learning assessment, he was able to exceed the minimum requirements for the course.
Mike
