Helena,
Don't you think the college should be up front with everyone? Why is it fair to allow ANYONE to continue in school when you cannot assure them of the chances to actually have a future career in the field? Be careful. Being overprotective of someone BECAUSE they have a disability, even with the best of intentions, is never fair. We like to give all students the same respect for having the ability to make their own decisions. Be up front with all students, and let them decide.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The student's desire, hard work and drive to achieve success in a given field may be enough for the student to be one of the first to become successful in the field. Academic advising may help in making the student aware of the odds against them, but no matter how well intentioned, it is not absolute in determining the success of the student.
Dan,
You are right -- and that is true of students with and without disabilities. We can never predict student success, nor is it our responsibility to do so.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think so. I am in the nursing field and I have never seen any nurse, for example, in a wheelchair. While I feel that is unfair if a person really wants to help people by being a nurse, I do not realistically see how it wouldn't be a challenge and potentially dangerous to patients. If a patient started choking, how would proper life saving measures be performed if that nurse was the only medical professional around. As a patient, I think I would be concerned for my safety and would request another nurse.
Stacy,
It worries me that you would still be thinking along the lines of such stereotypes after having participated in this class. The "I've never known someone to be able to do this so it can't be done" philosophy has been used as an excuse to limit the opportunities of people with disabilities for many years. I think you need to go back and re-read the material here. There ARE things that people with disabilities might not be able to do -- but to rule out an entire class of occupations because of a trumped up series of "what if's" is unworthy.
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!
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
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.
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
As instructors, I feel our responsibility is to provide the students with the tools that is needed to do the job.
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
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!
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
