Sherry-Lynn,
Sounds as though it all had a happy ending, and that is the important thing. But I am guessing that what you understood the college to be providing because it was a nurturing environment (and nothing wrong with that!) was actually being provided because the deemed it necessary for access... and having full access meant that your son could be and was successful.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Jane, Happy ending,yes. I think though they were providing a niche to promote the college and in retrospect access played a part for sure. Yet they provided so much more than what I now understand they had to.
I think providing accomadations are essential for student success. I have not personally had the oopportunity to provide accomadations for students but I would be more than happy to. I agree that students should not have an advantage when completing their assingments, however they should have the tools they need to be succesful in their online classroom.
Alena,
I certainly agree with your general tone and idea -- that students with disabilities deserve a chance to succeed. I just want to be sure you keep in mind that we do not make accommodations for SUCCESS, only for purposes of ACCESS. We supply that level playing field (through accommodations) -- they supply their own talents and skills that lead to success.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It is in line with an accommodation we made providing a student with a computer screen magnifier so he could read the text on the screen. Yes he had access to the computer screen, but without that piece of equipment he really did not, as he could not see (or access) the writing without it.
Vincent,
Yep! It is amazing how many doors have been opened through the introduction of relatively simple technology. Here is a student who can now do what anyone else can do online, just by providing the virtual equivalent of a magnifying glass!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Students with disabilities want to be treated as equals and the accommodations provide support for
their disability, not minimize their capabilities.
Theosious,
In some ways, the purpose of accommodations is to provide support for their STRENGTHS, rather than their weaknesses (disabilities). Accommodations generally allow students to minimize the impact of the disability by shifting the circumstances to play off their strengths. But your sentiment is spot on!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Folks, After watching the Para-Olympics, I was astounded by the ingenuity people used to adapt various sports to their disability and/or to adapt various disabilities to their sport. Thus, I believe, there is an evolution that allows accommodations to facilitate both access and influence the chances for success.
Norman,
Those are great examples, and you are right. But I don't think the focus here should be on adapting the person to the environment or the environment to the person so much as it should be on recognizing that the way folks have always participated isn't the ONLY way to participate. The same is true of learning.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I love this quote. There is a student that exemplifies this at my school and many do. Actually, we dis-service any student when we do not help them rise and exceed expectations. We provide the access and encouragement and curriculum, but much is up to them, as with all students.
Annette,
That is certainly the intent of the law -- to make sure that all students have the same opportunity to show you whether or not they can be successful. We provide the access, they provide the brains and the skill!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Dr. Farrow,
Yes, but one of the points I was making is that, once people see what people with disabilities can do, they may not be as dismissive of their capabilities. After all, how often do you see blind folks skiing at 70 mph or wheel chair bound people playing ice hockey on sleds. So it is not a stretch for me to think that people with disabilities can be successful in many more endeavors than would have been supposed just a few years ago.
Some of the student who are enrolled in the school where I work are not equipped to handle the medical field. Personnaly I believe that we are setting them up to fail. We do keep trying to assist them as most appropriate accomidations.
Theresa,
It is likely that there ARE students who are not equipped to handle the medical field. And it is likely that not all of those who fit that description are students with disabilities. You say that you assist them by providing appropriate accommodations. Either you think all students who struggle have disabilities, or you think you owe more to students with disabilities who make poor career decisions than you do to nondisabled students. Neither is a good assumption.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
i feel its not about "leveling the playing field" i feel like it giving more opportunities where there might not have been any.. we don't choose to have disabilities.. however, we can choose to consider others and how we can give the same opportunities to them..
I have no questions to ask at the present time.
Thanks,
Mark Carlisle
This explains the difference between access and success. This difference is invaluable for anyone attempting to interpret the law.
I am not aware of how accomodations for disabilities are made at this college, but we do have tutoring for all those requesting it. However this addresses success rather than access.
William,
I would have to disagree. It IS about leveling the playing field. Special Education laws that govern the K-12 system often require that the school make significant changes to curriculum or expectations -- to make more opportunities -- for children with disabilities. That is not what our laws are all about. Our laws focus on more access to the SAME opportunities that everyone else has.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Margaret,
You are right, and that is an important distinction. Tutoring is, by definition, a success oriented strategy. There is nothing in 504/ADA that prohibits the institution in providing success-oriented services to all students, disabled or not. But that isn't provided because of their disability, but because they are students.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
