Get Your Students Hired
Kristina ,
Not only is it now "owed", it should be discouraged. People with disabilities have been protected OUT of opportunities for years because of someone's well-meaning, but misguided attempt to protect. It shows much more respect for the student when you give them the courtesy of letting them make their own, informed, decisions.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
In my opinion, our goal in education is to advise students on the best route for the education needed in order to jump start their career. Of course, we have no control over what they ultimately decide to do with their newfound education. Having an open and honest conversation with them about possible employment opportunities they may have or might not have available when they graduate is great but trying to "protect them" by saying they shouldn't attempt it is something we don't owe them.
Yolanda,
In addition, keep in mind that technology and other advances make a tremendous difference in both the job market and the type of job that is out there. The skills and information that students master today may be usable tomorrow in a way that we can't even imagine now. We need to provide students -- ALL students -- with the tools, and let them decide how to use them.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It is our obligation to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against because they have a disability. If they meet the admissions requirements, it would be unethical to deny them the opportunity to further their education. I know several individuals with disabilities who are attending college and they are doing fine with their studies, while being provided with the necessary accommodations. It will be essential that all questions are answered regarding their field of interest and advise the student to conduct further research about their employability in that particular field.
Dawnyell,
What you describe is a significant problem, for sure. Just keep in mind that it isn't about disability! Colleges should be honest with all students (for the reasons you cite), but there is no reason to be more discouraging (or less honest!) because the applicant has a disability.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I do think colleges should be up front and honest to their students and potential students. My first instructor’s job was at a carrier college where I knew that the intake officer was just “filling†sets. I had students who had already been through similar programs and were not able to pass the licensing requirements. It was obvious after a working with those students that they would never be able to pass. These students not only have to deal with the emotional back lash of failing to pass but also the finical hardship of paying back loans and or tuition upfront.
Ashley,
I couldn't have said it better myself! We are in a position to advise them on their qualifications and skills/abilities for participating in the program. We aren't in a position to promise them anything for later, positive OR negative. It is more respectful to consider students with disabilities as fully capable of making their own (informed) decisions, just as we expect (and respect!) other students.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I do believe it is our responsibility to be honest about the job requirements of the major they are considering, however, I don't feel we should try to change their mind because there is a chance they may be unsuccessful. We should ask them questions about why they are choosing this field and make sure we feel that they are educated on what they are getting into. If they seem knowledgable on the job requirements and what will be asked of them, we should let them follow their dream. If the student seemed unsure about the field or had the wrong impression of the field, we should assist them in researching the possible jobs available for this major. We shouldn't give them instruction on what to do with their life but assist them in anyway possible to make the best accomadating decision.
James,
That's an interesting perspective -- that we can help students with disabilities most when we encourage them to pursue their goals and then actively work to support them in that pursuit. Good for you!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The college does owe it to a student with a disability to be honest about their chance of employment if they are considering a major in a field in which they are unlikely to be successful because the job market is very tough nowadays. There is a saying honesty is the best policy. Encourage the student with a disabiltiy to go for it and help them out if they need help with anything, such as cover letters, resumes, job interviews, and job apllications. We should protect students with disabilities from such unwise choices at such significant costs because if you tell the student one thing, then the student would do another thin and they will get discouraged.
William,
Just keep in mind that there is a difference between being absolutely honest and forthcoming about potential barriers and suggesting to them that they are being unrealistic. The latter implies a judgment on your part that, simply because of your position of power and authority in those conversations, amounts to restrictive career counselor -- something that is expressly prohibited under the law. Never be afraid to state the facts of the situation, but leave the conclusions to the student!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Our overarching goal should be to help students and prospective students to reach their maximum potential. One the one hand, we have a statutory duty not to discriminate against an "otherwise qualified" person because of a disability. On the other hand, we have a statutory duty to prepare students for gainful employment; in addition it could be construed as fraud if we failed to advise a student or prospective student that his stated career ambitions (e.g., police work) are unrealistic, either because of a disability (e.g., quadriplegia) or some other reason (e.g., a criminal record).
On the third hand, it would be wrong to tell an "otherwise qualified" person that he/she is unlikely to be hired because some employers might violate the ADA. (On the cutting edge of law are questions involving adverse employment actions against people with body piercings and tattoos. If such employer action is legal, then do we have a duty to warn? To prohibit?) Ultimately my policy is to counsel students the way that I would want others to counsel my daughter.
Melissa,
I couldn't agree more. I think the institution has an obligation to ANY student to make sure they understand the demands and parameters of their field of interest. But once that information is shared, the decision as to whether or not to proceed still rests with the student.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
This raises an interesting situation that I have once encountered. If the student is enrolling in a program that leads to a profression that is going to often require them to be mobile and possess the ability to lift 50+ pounds and their disability hinders these requirements, couldn't it be argued that institutions are doing an injustice to the student by not informing them of these requirements. I do not feel that students with disabilities should be excluded from programs in which employment could be tricky due to their disability, however, I am a strong advocate that the potential student should be presented with all the facts of their potential program/eventual profession and have the ability to make an informed choice. The institutions must operate transperantly, hiding this information in order to secure an enrollment, in my opinion, is highly unethical.
I am not sure what "situation" you are talking about, Daryl. Do you mean that most faculty/staff are not experienced in how best to provide accommodations to a student with a disability? I agree. That's why the institution should have a designated individual on campus to assign accommodations and support students and faculty. Or are you saying that most folks are not trained in how to counsel students about the choices they make? I would argue that students with disabilities don't need to be counseled any differently than any other student -- we need to be honest with all of them. THAT expertise already exists.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
with the cost of tuition, we definitely owe it to all students to be honest about the choices they make. The problem is that most folks are not trained on how to handle these situations at the campus level
Anya,
How do you EVER know that a student will be successful in a given field, with or without disability? I am in favor of making sure that students understand the options and opportunities, but that is not the same as restrictive counseling for students with disabilities that might discourage them from trying because of someone else's experience or perceptions.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Megan,
I am all for "truth in advertising" in terms of making sure that students have a good understanding of what they are getting into. Just make sure that the institution doesn't save that kind of "reality check" advising ONLY for students who they don't think can make it in school BECAUSE of disability.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I believe it is our job to educate students about employment opportunities prior to them starting a particular field of study. We can not deny that student from going forward with their major choice but we can most definitely educate them and point them in the direction of doing their own research and making sure they will be successful in that field knowing that they do have a particular disability.