What to ask
As an admissions representative I may ask the student with a known disability if he or she has any concerns about how their disability may affect their pursuits. What I cannot ask is the back story as to how they becamse disabled.
Brett,
Works for me! That is exactly what you should be doing... treating these students as you do all others.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Personally, I think that you just present them all the facts, ask if they foresee any concerns or issues (which is the same I do with any student) and then address the ones that are appropriate. If I can't answer then I'll get them to the person(s) who can.
Amber,
I don't see how sharing their disability-related concerns with you is going to set someone up as an inspiration to anyone else (since you aren't going to share that information). What's more, I don't think it is fair to expect that a student with a disability wants or needs to be a role model or a ground breaker. They should be able to focus on their own goals, not being representative of some forced grouping of "others like them."
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think it is fair to ask if they have any concerns with how their disability may affect their pursuits. Who knows? perhaps being a little unique may strive them harder to make a name for others like them and proving a point saying "look at me I can do it!"
asking how they got the disability is unfair and not necessairy. Some people can't even answer that question. Like for example, someone with an invisible disability such as ADHD might not have a back story.
There has to be a line drawn somewhere and this is it. It is really not the admissions rep's business how the person became disabled. That is way out of the scope of need to know.
Michele,
I agree. Generally, whether or not someone "needs to know" is dependent on whether there is something that can or should be done differently as a result of having that information. Since knowing how the student came to be disabled would not change what you do for them now, it is probably not necessary to ask.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Ifeel evven asking that could be inappropriate at that point in the process.
Rebecca,
From a legal standpoint, you COULD ask that -- but there is generally no reason to do so, and thus it would be impolite and intrusive to inquire under most circumstances. Think about information regarding the student's disability as "private" rather than "secret."
Dr. Jane Jarrow
