Kevin, This is great. It is amazing what we will learn if we stop and listen.
As I had mentioned in a previous forum. I have had the opportunity to work with an amazing client/student. While this person was extremely physically disabled (wheelchair user, minimal use of hands and arms) he has managed to be successful at the University level. He does not use his disability as a crutch. He focuses on what he can do and does it with all of his heart. It is amazing to see someone with so much perseverance and passion.
Kevin,
Always great to hear about the success stories. Best of luck to him -- and you!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
This is a story about my brother who has cerebal palsy, epilepsy, muscular distropy,and has a mind set of a 14 year old. Dr's always said that he would never make it past the age of 18 or so but he is currently 33, graduated from high school, and holds down a full time job.
Kevin,
Congrats to you for being willing to work with this person. People are sometimes afraid to approach options for someone with a disability.
Jeffrey,
No wonder you have such a good grasp of the issues, and are such a champion of equal access. You have not only been living with the impact of this for years (seeing it for your brother), but you know that there IS potential there to be tapped. Best of luck to him.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The success story I have involves my brother. He always had trouble focusing and it wasn't until recently that he was diagnosed with ADHD, explaining some of his past educational difficulties. Since that time he has excelled and is scheduled to graduate from college this December.
Thank you,
Jeff Porter
Stephen,
Your experiences attest to the capabilities that remain, rather than disabilities that limit. And you are correct -- THAT is what the ADA is all about. Many years ago, there were huge advancements in the field of rehab engineering that emerged at Purdue University because they had a huge Ag school. They also were seeing a large number of farmers who had been seriously injured while working their farms -- missing limbs from thrashers, spinal cord injuries from run-ins with heavy equipment, and so on. These gentlemen (as it was almost always males) wanted and needed to continue to work. So the engineers at Purdue got together with the Ag folks and developed adaptations to tractors that would allow them to be operated with one hand, pedals that could be operated with only one foot, and so on. That was 40+ years ago. Think what we can do with today's technology!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I had a truck driving student who was missing his left arm in one class and in another class had a student missing his left leg. They both had prosthetic limbs to help them be able to control the commercial truck in a safe manor. The medical review examiner had given the students an evaluation that they can drive a commercial truck, while other students in a similar situation gave it the best that they could, they were not able to pass the test safely.
Everyone should be given the chance to prove what they can do with or with out limitations that they might have.We are also individuals first and all have challenges that we must face. We should not set limits on people and what they can and can not do, at the same time there should be an oped discussion on the challenges at hand.
Courtney,
I couldn't have said it better myself. The presence of disability has no bearing, one way or the other, on competency or determination.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I just started with the company and I have no hands on experience with a student of my own who planned it and achieved it. But while in college i took a class with a guy who had a disability, I'm not to sure what his disability was but he was in a electric chair and he was always very smart in our class. We normally found ourselves asking him for help or for his notes in a particular. He graduated the semester before I and I went to the graduation and when his name was called he didnt want to walk across the bottom of the stage he wanted to walk the stage and no one knew he could walk he had his crutches and a his mom and they walked the stage together and he received a standing ovation. He defeated all odds and from my understanding he went back to receive his masters as well. Students with disabilities are sometimes more determined than the ones who doesnt have any.
phillip,
And did he succeed? I hope the answer is "yes"!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I had a student once who was deaf and there were people in the school who felt that he would not be able to start or even get through the interview. After much time and effort, he was able to enroll and start the program just like any other student.
Cynthia,
That's wonderful. Congratulations to her AND to you. As the mother of a daughter with a disability, I know how much of her success may lie with the constant support and encouragement she received from home. Our kids have the native abilities, but it is up to us to make sure the world doesn't stand in their way. I salute you -- one warrior to another!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. her grades suffered because she could not focus. Her teachers took a special interest because she was smart and needed guidance to complete her tasks. Her pediatrician put her on meds to calm her down. She graduated high school and is now making A's in college. I am thankful for the accommodations of the school and her teachers. She is studying psychology so she can help other children like herself. She is a true success story.
Jon,
In an earlier thread you suggested that you have often seen students who use their disability as an excuse for their poor performance. Have you never seen anyone who had a disability who achieved -- often beyond yours or anyone else's expectations? If you discourage those who use disability as a crutch, then shouldn't you acknowledge those who make their disability a non-issue by their success?
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I really don't think I would as in relationship to the students disability. Tends to lead people to focus more on the disability then the students achievement. They're just people....
I really don't think I would as in relationship to the students disability. Tends to lead people to focus more on the disability then the students achievement. They're just people....
Theresa,
When you have personal experience with people like that, it reminds you that the human spirit is not equated with the physical body!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
When I was in college I met a girl who was in a wheelchair. She was not able to push herself, but she was in an electirc wheelchair. Her major was communications. She overcame obsticals because she was well known on campus as being a very successful student despite needing a person to be with her most of the day including to take notes. She was also part of the drama department. She starred in many productions and was even a character actor at an amusment park. She had the best sense of humor I've ever heard and was able to accomplish a lot despit not having the use of her legs and minimal use of her arms.
