Frank McGee October 19, 2010 B.

Wilson Sketch Students and Disabilities: What Accommodations Can do to Help There are many students with various disabilities in school, falling behind other students in an average classroom, not understanding what is being taught, let alone given a chance to do so to properly learn. Why is it that so many students dont succeed? What could help them out, one would ask? If students with disabilities were granted accommodations often and on a regular basis, they have the opportunity to succeed with everyone else, and excel in school.

Now, the main question is, why give out accommodations? Why should administrations at various schools, private academies to public schools? Why give students who are struggling a litter perk? That little perk, could be the little help they need. Whether its seeing another students notes because their original ones arent of perfect quality, or the fact that they need to take an examination in a quiet area, or even an extension of time for taking it. Why give a student a failing grade in a course, when they have potential to pass and werent otherwise given a chance to redeem themselves?

I support this point because, I, myself, have been diagnosed with a learning disability, called Asphergers Syndrome, a form of autism, at a very young age. It

stunted my learning skills as well as my social growth. According to ASCEND Groups website: What is Asperger Syndrome? Asperger Syndrome (AS) is neurologically based and is classified as a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician, first identified it in 1944. Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1994. Related diagnoses include: High-Functioning Autism, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, and PDD-NOS. Psychologist Tony Attwood, considered one of the top experts in the field, likes to describe AS as "having a brain that's wired differently not defectively." That's more than just an analogy. Recently, scientists in Great Britain published findings that showed there are significant differences in the connectivity of nerve cells in the brains of people with AS. The more severe the symptoms, the more abnormal the MRI scans. But even so, not everyone with autism, or Asphergers for that matter, are the same. As about.coms website for Symptoms of Autism Differ from Person to Person, There is a saying in the autism field: "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." In other words: every person on the autism spectrum is unique, and one person's set of symptoms is just that ... one person's symptoms of autism! This is, in part, because autism is a spectrum disorder: you can be a little autistic or very autistic. Because of Autisms variation in different people, special accommodations might need to be adjusted. Some people only need a few accommodations (ie meet with instructor, take test in another location), while other students might need many more (ie extra time for tests, note sharing). It all depends on the person and what they need.

Though many people claim they are helping those with learning disabilities, (in this case, autism), and it does help many, there are also those who refuse to use any accommodations, and act like a normal human being. As the Mission Statemen of the ASAN states (Austistic Self Advocacy Network):

Mission Statement: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement in the world of autism. Drawing on the principles of the cross-disability community on issues such as inclusive education, community living supports and others, ASAN seeks to organize the community of Autistic adults and youth to have our voices heard in the national conversation about us. In addition, ASAN seeks to advance the idea of neurological diversity, putting forward the concept that the goal of autism advocacy should not be a world without Autistic people. Instead, it should be a world in which Autistic people enjoy the same access, rights and opportunities as all other citizens. Working in fields such as public policy, media representation, research and systems change, ASAN hopes to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of their own lives and the future of our common community. Nothing About Us, Without Us!

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization run by and for Autistic people. ASAN's supporters include Autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators and friends. ASAN was created to provide support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum while working to change public perception and combat misinformation by educating communities about persons on the autism spectrum. Our activities include public policy advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion and respect for neurodiversity, quality of life oriented research and the development of Autistic cultural activities and other opportunities for Autistic people to engage with others on the spectrum. ASAN initiatives include the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE), an active Speaker's Bureau and advocacy in support of autism and disability-related issues such as deinstitutionalization and community living supports, educational opportunity and inclusion, employment supports and other initiatives at both state and federal levels.

Basically, when it comes to disabilities and accommodations, I propose that they be made readily available to those who are eligible, but at the same time, give the person a choice as to whether or not they want to utilize them. It is up to the person themself. Sure, they may have a disability in learning, but they are still fully functioning human being, able to speak for themselves. Yay or nay is all they have to say to a simple question, Do I want to use these accommodations presented to me or not? It is all in their hands.