This story was produced as part of Annenberg Media’s From The Classroom series, which is a way for us to share some of the work done by students for course credit. Pieces categorized in this section have undergone editorial review by a faculty member in addition to Annenberg Media’s independent student newsroom. Read the rest of them here.
Imagine you’re sitting at the end of class and everybody around you is packing up. But you don’t have the ability to put your computer away, and your assistant is out sick. For most people, that wouldn’t be an issue. But that situation causes a major problem in my life, because I have a physical disability called cerebral palsy (CP) and am confined to a wheelchair, which affects my ability to do physical tasks.
I have seen and experienced, through my time at my institution of higher learning, some examples of microaggressions, which are unintentional comments or behaviors that may come off as rude to a disabled person.
In addition to CP, I’m what is considered multi-disabled because I also have optic nerve atrophy, which is an eye disorder resulting in visual impairment. My CP is caused by brain damage, which affects my ability to comprehend math and science concepts. It affects how I learn, but you must understand that having CP does not in any shape or form affect my cognitive abilities. My type of CP affects how I process information, but that is not due to a mental disability.
I need certain accommodations that are provided to me by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, sometimes, those laws are just the basis of what is required.
What surprises me is the societal misunderstanding that I see on a daily basis throughout my life, especially as a college student. The university can only reinforce the laws and the accommodations that are necessary for that individual student through an accommodation letter or meetings with a professor. It is up to the faculty and the schools and departments throughout the university to make sure that the basic human right for accessibility, which is mandated by the ADA, is met. However, not all of this is a law issue, or even a university issue. It is simply an issue of morals.
For starters, if someone needs assistance putting their stuff away in a bag because their assistant is not there for just one day, just help them put their stuff in the bag. Secondly, don’t make comments during class that might be seen as condescending. For example, a student might ask you to enlarge something because that student has a visual impairment. You are not obligated to satisfy every request but have compassion for the student. Sometimes I think that we get too caught up in the legalities of what it is that you’re legally supposed to do, and what is morally correct and justified.
If you’re a professor, please understand you might have to adjust the contracts or set-upon accommodation agreements during the time that a student with disabilities is enrolled in your class. Please consult with your university’s disability services office if you have any questions about the legality of what you’re doing. Ultimately, I’m just asking you to ensure that the students that come into your classroom that are not “normal” have a fair and appropriate shot, and don’t feel like a burden or that they don’t belong.
It is true that you should treat all your students the same, but please understand that people with disabilities, unfortunately, cannot be treated the same in a sense that the special accommodations that they require are through no fault of their own. You’re not being asked to change or modify the content of the class, but probably more so the methodology of teaching. It’s up to you to figure out how best to support students with disabilities, because the university and the supports that are put in place can only go so far.
No amount of laws can ever change people’s attitudes. It all comes down to compassion and a willingness to change and adapt. I must tell you, as a final thought, that those changes that you make to your classroom and materials based on a disabled student’s needs might benefit other students in the long run and will benefit you as an educator and morally just human being.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the truth of our lived, collective experiences as people with disabilities in higher education is painful. In my life, my goal has always been to tell stories as I see them, and talk about the things that matter, and education matters, not only to people with disabilities, but to everybody an educational institution, especially one that admits students with disabilities, should not be a place where a student has to fight for a place at the table. We already earned our seats. We’re just waiting for the world to see us, hear our stories and believe in us.