Student teacher with disabilities!?

Question

I am a Senior Elementary Education major with just student teaching left, but my advisor and another professor told me that I am not able/passable as a student teacher because of my Learning disabilities, & ADHD. They suggest changing majors now! All I want to do is just graduate I know I can do it with modifications and some extra help. I would like to know what type of modifications they are allowed to give me for my student teaching? Also, is a person allowed to student teach in a non-standard style of school, like a Montessori school? Also can you student teach in a resource class? I live in IL. Advise me what to do please!

Answer 1

You need to speak with an attorney. They are VERY incorrect about the matter. Also, visit your state's Rehabilitation Services Office and speak with them about your plight. And, at the college or university that you attend, look for the Student's with Disabilities Service Center -- they should be able to explain it to your advisor and anyone else. They will not be permitted to accept federal funding if they refuse to allow you to pursue your interests to the best of your ability. Your advisor is living in the 'dark ages'.

As a matter of fact, my English professor at college level admitted to having ADHD.

Copy this and take it with you...show it to anyone doubting your right to an education irregardless of disability.

Answer 2

You do not say what your disabilities are. Unlike grade school and high school, college does not change its requirements for students due to learning disabilities. It can modify how information is presented but not the base requirements. You will have to do the same amount of student teaching as anyone else. You can not use your disability to say you can not teach a whole class or day. You have to be able to do everything another student teacher has to do, that is central to the job. That means correcting papers, student management, lesson plans etc. and done on time. You need to be able to stay in the classroom for the entire time and do all your paperwork by yourself because you will not have help once you are hired. That being said, I would look into who at the college advised you. I am sure your disabilities are not new and the dept had to know about this ahead of time. You should have been doing class observations and short help - where were your advisor and professor then? I would get a lawyer because if they led you on to believe that you would get that help while student teaching they misled you. Student teaching is mandatory. Period.

Answer 3

Wow, I'll just say that your college / university / institution of higher learning screwed you unbelievably! Your so-called 'disabilities' surely didn't appear overnight, presumably you've had these for years. And your advisor / professor, knowing these facts, allowed you to proceed through 7 semesters of college tuition payments? -- to what, bar you from completing your degree? I suppose all they wanted was an easy way to bilk you and your family out of thousands of dollars.

My suggestion is for you to refuse to change majors. Absolutely refuse their (worthless) advice. Demand to meet with the superior of either one and present your argument until you achieve a satisfactory response. Continue to move up the chain of command if need be. All else fails, go to the media -- a story about how colleges and universities are defrauding students out of their tuition money might make it to your local paper or television news outlet.

Downplay that whole "All I want to do is just graduate I know I can do it with modifications and some extra help" angle though. Whoever told you that a college should be required to allow you "modifications and extra help" did you a grave disservice. It's time to join the real world now. Life / nature / reality doesn't allow modifications... it deals with all living things dispassionately, as it should.

Good luck.

Answer 4

You may be entitled to modifications and extra help for in-class work, but there's no way you're allowed to have them during the time you spend in a classroom doing student teaching. Contact the university's Disability Resource Center and ask for help. Your school may have a Student Legal Center where law students help you with legal troubles- try them too.

Answer 5

that is aboslute bull ****! That is discrimination. I have never heard of that. I would speak to someone over your "advisor". The college should have a student services for people with learning disabilities & other disabilities to help you out.
Good luck

Answer 6

hiya!!!! ignored you ok, so so you might purchase a tape recorder at minimum value and checklist the instructor's lectures. That way you may make your very own notes at homestead. i might propose putting the recorder on the lecturers table or close to the place they lecture to shrink history noise. on the tip of each and every class, i might attitude the instructor and ask if there have been any time limits or assignments given, purely in case it does not come sparkling on the tape. Then, in case you pass over something the fault is theirs, not yours. in case you may make acquaintances with somebody at college, you would be waiting to repeat their notes, notwithstanding that may not as sturdy as taking your very own (to your very own applications I propose. I continuously did extra advantageous with MY notes.) ultimately, if any of the lecturers supply you a tricky time or do not decide to be recorded, purely propose them which you have been asking them for notes and that they have got not been impending, yet you would be extremely joyful to debate the project with the first. If that gets you nowhere, take it up with the college board. you have my genuine digital mail handle, in case you elect help, i grants you some extra suggestion on a thank you to cope with those human beings or assist you to draft a letter to the college board complaining, and so on. sturdy success.