While I agree with Sean that the challenge of facilitating a class of diverse students, especially ones with disabilties, can be difficult, I find that understanding what the disabilties are and how to reach each student can be key to successful classroom learning/teaching. I am lucky to teach (and work) at a college that has an academic learning specialist that works with these students, faculty, and staff to support the students with learning disabilities (we call them "differences" rather than "disabilities" to further indicate the potential rather than deficit). The specialist works individually with the student and faculty to even out the classroom environment. Sometimes this works well in getting the disabled student "up to speed" as well as giving faculty tools on how to better facilitate this environment. With proper communication and education of the faculty that teach these students, we have greater engagement by the whole class and overall success.
P.S: As a side note: I would also caution that all disabilties do not play out the same in the classroom. A student with ADD (learning disability) verses one with bi-polar disorder (emotional disability) must be addressed in a different way. As Sean stated, here is where the art of facilitating comes in. I find this to be a beautiful moment for potential growth of both the student and teacher's learning.
