But, before I continue to delve into the research applying it to what I will be learning about students with disabilities, I want to shared some of my initial assumptions, preconceptions, and beliefs about the culture, values, and experiences of students with disabilities.
I'm not proud of the biases I have but I know it's better to know and admit that I have them, rather than stereotype and take my beliefs as face value and true.
Learning
Learning disabilities are on the rise. From 1.8% (in the 70s) to 5% (199) (http://nces.ed.gov). Although this isn't a HUGE percentage of students the amount of students enrolled in school in general is going up... so in reality, it is still a big jump. Now, before I go on and state my opinions, I want to say that I believe that learning disabilities exist. I believe there are students that truly benefit from receiving IEP's and the help of disabilities services. However, I believe there is a line, and it has bee crossed. When I was in elementary school, there was one person on my class that was on an IEP and left class to take tests. Now, my boyfriend, who is a teach at a local high school, has 1/4-1/3 of his class on an IEP that needs special attention. I'd be foolish to say that some of these students truly need the help... but sometimes I wonder if we've gone too far.
It's interesting because I have the exactly SAME argument about mental illnesses, but I tend to side with those with mental illness (touch on later). Are there really more people with learning disabilities or are we just diagnosing people more often? I think more is expected of the schools and more blame on failure is placed on outside factors rather than the work ethic of the student. It's not the students' fault... it's the schools fault for not providing services to those that "need" it.
At what point at students utilizing services they don't need? At what point are we catering to students rather than helping them? As tuition rises students are no longer viewed as an individual that needs to grow; they are a consumer : they get what they want.
At what point are students getting what they WANT rather than what they NEED?
BUT, on the same note as that. Where does this leave students that really have learning disabilities? Do they feel undervalued? Do others view them this way? "oh they're just lazy?". The boy-who-called-wolf syndrome. They are thrown into the "OHH they have a LEARNING DISABILITY *rolls eyes*" pile... when they shouldn't be.
Thankfully, I know that these students still receive the help they need... I just don't think it's fair for them to be in a climate that may view them this way... I need to work on it.
Mental
As a Psychology major, I have my own views and idea of how people that have a mental illness are viewed. Like students with a learning disability, there has been a rise in students that have been diagnosed with a mental illness. However, I think there are many students that still go un-diagnosed and the number is much higher. I don't think the number is going UP, it's that there are more people that are seeking help.
Mental illness has such a stigma. When I was a resident advisor, whenever I would mention the Counseling Center people were always very defensive and would say "I'm not crazy". It's interesting that mental illness automatically have this label. I'm noticing more and more that it is becoming acceptable to seek him... but it's still has a negative stigma placed upon it.
I think that students with mental illness are afraid to come forth and are much less likely to go to disability services for help. People don't think of mental illness as a disability... and more-so place it into a different category. I also find that people BLAME the person with the disability (blame the victim) rather than realize that many mental illness are caused by something physical. Just like we wouldn't blame someone with cancer for having cancer (unless it's lung...) we shouldn't blame people with mental illness for their problems.
"Just be happy" doesn't cut it.
Physical
When people think "students with disabilities" this is usually where their mind goes. Handicap parking spaces, ramps, accessibility, wheelchairs, etc. I wouldn't say that these students are any more understood, but they certainly are the most accepted. People with physical disabilities often have something to SHOW for it; you know what is "wrong" with them or what their handicap is.
I don't think students with physical disabilities have it any easier but I definitely thing that they are the group within "Student with Disability" that are overlooked the least and rarely BLAMED for their problems. In this case, people for "sorry" for them... not sure this is any better...
I'm interested to see how my ideas will change throughout the semester...
http://nces.ed.gov
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