Another question on this board got me thinking about this and it's something I've been curious about for a while. I'm asking because I have a disability - actually various physical disabilities resulting from a brain injury - and I am in graduate school. I'm considering getting a PhD after I get my Master's. I am just curious what people with disabilities go through when they decide to become professors and I'd also like to hear from students who've had a professor with a disability or professors who have a collegue with a disability. What was your experience like? Thanks guys!
2007-09-14 14:03:45 · 5 answers · asked by starfishblues 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I had an economics teacher who was blind. He did fine. He wrote on the blackboard, used overhead projection screens, and even used a lot of broad hand gestures when he lectured. He had a regular printed role call and he had a dfferent student call role every day, but if you tried to skip someone he always knew, and if you changed chairs he knew, and if you weren't in class and someone tried to cover by saying "here" he knew. He probably could have called role from memory with no problem. Really I think a University is a good place for a person with a disability to work. It is a fairly safe environment, it is generally pretty open minded, and they tend to be designed to accomodate people with disabilities. Really I don't see how it would be any different from any other job when you're disabled, except that it may be pretty fulfilling for someone who is intellectually bent.
2007-09-14 14:11:23 · answer #1 · answered by awakeatdawn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know of a couple of professors who have disabilities. One had a disability is one who was attacked and sustained nerve damage due to a knife wound. He lost some feelings in his legs, and needs to use crutches. It obviously didn't affect his ability to lecture.
The other was a mathematician who is blind.
But the most famous professor with a disability has very serious problems -- that would be Stephen Hawking. He has managed to do quite well.
2007-09-14 21:14:05 · answer #2 · answered by Ranto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the leading researchers in our field is in a wheelchair. I had him as a professor in grad school, and I think if anything, people respected him more for his accomplishments because it was apparent how much more he had to overcome to be not only a peer, but superior to most. While I would guess that his (major) university is pretty good with accommodations, I would imagine that he has had more than his share of trouble with travel to conferences over the years, but he does travel a lot, and I've never heard him complain about it.
2007-09-14 21:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by neniaf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So would complete mental retardation count as a disability? If so, one...
peace
2007-09-15 00:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
no i dont.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070914181556AAq4xTC&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwLLNuFeIyROrxSJGIjr_aR6aulqecPHigXg--&paid=asked&msgr_status=
2007-09-14 21:23:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋