Get Your Students Hired
Jessica,
Being honest with students about expectations is a necessary step in providing good counsel and advice. The trick, as you note, is to let them know what problems you foresee, while providing them the opportunity to explore further -- without restricting their right to choose.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
ROSANGELA,
I agree. The obligation to be honest and direct in discussing both the requirements and expectations of the field are not any different for students with or without disabilities. Moreover, their right to make informed decisions about what they choose to pursue is ALSO no different.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It is always a good practice to be open with a student. If there is a significant chance that a student will not have employment opportunities they should be advised as well as encouraged to do additional research.
When any student comes to the school our obligation is to explain the requirements of the job and the training and made sure he was aware of job requirements before he signed up. With the internet access now a day we see more and more people with disability doing things that it was not expected. It’s up to the person to put his effort to do what he wants if he thinks he is capable.
William,
How do you know that ANY of the students who come through your program will ever get a job in their chosen field? Why do you worry about that only for students with disabilities?
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I'm somewhat ambivalent. I see students who I fear will never get a job in their chosen field, yet will owe 30K and no way to repay it.
Sidorva,
Those are great ideas. There is nothing that helps students -- disabled or not -- be realistic about what will be required of them and of their personal chance of success than allowing them to see someone in action doing what they think THEY want to do!!!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
You just made an interesting point! With the laws being enforced and as more information is provided, who is to say that employers have not changed? In fact, I would think that they would have changed to also comply with laws. Employers could face some type of disciplinary action as well as educational institutions. It is our responsibility to provide students with information and requirements of a career field. We could even go so far as helping them to speak with or job shadow someone in the field. We could also suggest volunteering or interning if possible.
Marie,
And have you never worked with nurses who have normal hearing who have missed important symptoms? Sorry, but stereotyping is never a workable answer. There ARE things that people with disabilities cannot do. But determining what those things are must be on the basis of individual skills and abilities, not on flat out rejection of an entire class of individuals. Keep in mind, too, that you are talking about the training of students for a potential array of jobs that might present themselves upon completion of the program. You don't get to say, "because this student who is blind (or deaf, or ???) would not be able to perform in THIS (one) situation, we will not allow him/her to learn what our field is about."
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I teach nursing students and some disabilities (blindness and deafness) will put patients in jeopardy, even if accommodations are made. I have worked with severely hearing-impaired nurses and they have missed important symptoms.
Marsha,
The purpose of the laws (504/ADA) was to give people with disabilities a chance to use their potential to the fullest. Clearly you have a student there with tremendous potential. She will have a chance to make a difference because you make a difference for her!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
We recently experienced a situation at the college where I work. This is what led to my enrollment in this course, and I'm so glad for this opportunity to learn more and really understand the ADA and equal opportunity. For the first time in 24 years we had a deaf girl express interest in attending our college. We train Nutrition Professionals. This girls passion for the field of holistic nutrition and her dedication to bringing her nutrition education into her deaf community was so wonderful. For me, I knew she would be a truly successful student and accomplish her dreams of providing deaf people with the same nutritional services others receive. We are actually excited to accommodate such a bright and wonderful young girl but also needed guidance on the legalities involved. It is good to read all of the success stories on this thread.
Kamaria,
That's a good start to trying to assure a welcoming campus climate. Remember, though, that most of the students with disabilities currently in college have invisible disabilities -- they don't look different than other students outwardly. For some, their behavior might suggest disability, but for many the behavior caused by their disability has results that could just as easily be from another cause. As you say -- assumptions EITHER WAY can get you in trouble.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I am always careful when addressing as student with what appears to be a disability. I have learned to never assume...we all know what that means!
Eleanor,
That's true. The question is, what if anything is different (and what will you DO differently) for a student with a disability?
Dr. Jane Jarrow
As instructors, I feel our responsibility is to provide the students with the tools that is needed to do the job.
Tracy,
That's the key... you tell the same information to all students and give ALL students the courtesy of making their own decisions. Nothing wrong with that! GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think we do owe it to our students to be honest with them about their chosen career field. The field I teach requires standing in a small area for sometimes hours at a time. If I have a student that has a disability that could limit their ability to do this I make sure the student it aware of this and that allows them to make their own decision about possibly rethinking their career choice. Not only do I tell this to the disabled students, I tell this to all my students.
Verdell,
I think you just said, "everyone deserves an opportunity to show what they can do." If that was the gist of it -- I agree! GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Thats really hard to say. If a person in a wheel chair is trying out for the football team, then yes lets have a talk. Anything else could be borderline discrimination. Anything is possible as long as the person is not denied the opportunity to try. I'm not disabled but I hate to be told what I can not do. The human body is amazing!