Learning disability,
Everyone can see the respect and attention to elders and disables in public places around the cities in the GTA. From the automatic door openers, public transportation services to the parking spots. Student services, in schools, are ready to accommodate students with LD. Students with LD are students with learning difficulties, and it also includes students with physical disabilities. I had an experience of working with some students with learning and writing difficulties, and I would like to share it with who is interested in. Among them was Steven that at the end of the first class when everyone was still around and talking to me or with each other came forward and gave me a yellow paper. The yellow paper was from the school’s student center and informed me that Steven must be allowed to use his laptop in the class. I said OK. A few classes later, when we scheduled for the first quiz he gave me another yellow paper in which I was asked to let Steven write his test in the student center. I asked him why? And he said because he had learning disability. I said OK, However I could not believe that he had learning difficulties. He was apparently a bright student; however he sometime took class to discuss obvious things (until other students couldn’t stand and stopped him). He was a good student, but he almost wrote nothing in his test papers. Once I asked staffs at the student center, how differ writing a test in the center to that of a class. I surprised by the answer because they said they would let students take their time, no rush, but Steven hardly took five minutes for any test.
After a while Steven stopped discussion in the class and spent the class time surfing internet. I talked to some colleagues and chair of the school about Steven’s situation, but they all advised me it was what it was and everyone knew he had LD. Unfortunately Steven failed the course, but enrolled to repeat the course. I talked to Linda (the boss) at the student center about Steven and I found Steven had a certain reading difficulties. I asked her to not permit him to use laptop and let him to write his tests in the class because it was not successful last time. Nonetheless, Linda said she can’t, but I as his teacher can reject the permissions, and I did so. In that semester, I told him for his sake I wanted him to write all quizzes and tests in the class, and if he wanted to use his computer he has to show me his notes at the end of each class (however, I was not that hard on him for using his laptop). Steven was not happy with my decisions, but he passed the course with A+. I had some same experiences that cost my career at the end. Nonetheless, I would do the same again if I think I had to. I think having good rules and school policies are very good, but the important point is how these rules are conducted, isn’t it?