What happens to students getting accommodations in college once they graduate?

[Anonymous]

wow, the two stories of the adults living with these problems make me very worried for my son. It would be very painful being fired every two years.

[Anonymous]

I agree it's often about work ethic. Extra time on tests can only help so much; you still need to develop study skills, time management skills, etc. to be successful in college. My brother-in-law has dyslexia and ADHD and has been extremely successful in his career because he works really, really hard. One explanation for someone like the OP's employee who did well in college but can't function in an office environment is helicopter parents. I know parents who manage their kids' lives in college, calling them to wake them up for class, reminding them of deadlines, corresponding with professors, even doing their assignments. Their parents obviously can't continue to be involved at this level in a professional environment, so the kids crash and burn. IMO the best thing you can do for your children, SN or not, is teach them to be responsible for themselves.

Of course there are disabilities that make it difficult for even someone with a good work ethic to succeed professionally, but I would think they would also have a hard time in college. I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wow, the two stories of the adults living with these problems make me very worried for my son. It would be very painful being fired every two years.

It is (I'm the person who said I've only had one job last 2 yrs). There are definitely times when I am in no state of mind to be driving, because I am thisclose to driving myself right off a cliff. I haven't had health insurance in over half a decade either, because applying for it and sorting through it is too overwhelming for me, and don't have anyone to help me with it. Three times in the last week someone has tried to explain how Wifi works and what data plans are to me, and I still "don't get it."

My life is HARD. It's just really, really hard to navigate through life. (Also, through streets - ask me about the time I got lost in Miami for two hours because I couldn't find the exit I needed.) I think my parents try to not think about it too much.

The scary part is when I find out something basic or that makes my life so much easier, and it turns out everyone else has known for years, not only does my heart sink but I wonder what else I don't know that I should. See: white lights in the back of cars mean the car is going to back up, online banking, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The scary part is when I find out something basic or that makes my life so much easier, and it turns out everyone else has known for years, not only does my heart sink but I wonder what else I don't know that I should. See: white lights in the back of cars mean the car is going to back up, online banking, etc.

This happens to me and I don't have any learning disability. And I'm 50 years old and have had plenty of time for learning! I think this may just part of being human and not part of your disability. You do seem to write very well, so your disability can not be dysgraphia.

[Anonymous]

I think a large part of it is the child being able to find for herself her niche. I only know a handful of adults who also have some disabilities. Their families all went to bat for them, all the time, helping knock down barriers and get them places. They wanted their kids to be "successful" - but they could only define success as college degree, responsible office job, etc. At least one of them has such difficulties with sequencing that she'll be we'll suited to a job with a lot of routine, and not too much thinking on her feet. I know she feels like a failure for not meeting her family's definition of success.

[Anonymous]

If they have a true disability, they will also be accommodated at work via the ADA (assuming that their employer is of a size required to do so) if an accommodation will help them do the essential functions of their job.

The truly lazy (which has not been my experience of the current youth in the workplace) will fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anyone with a disability must still be able to perform the essential functions of their job, even with accommodations. It doesn't matter whether she received accommodations in school or not. She couldn't do her job. Whether or not she couldn't do her job may have had nothing to do with her disability, however. She may just have been a bad fit for your organization. Many new grads are not prepared for the work world and needing reminders, goofing around online, and being too talkative are hardly the hallmarks of a disabled young person.


This.

I'm hearing this from lots of late 40 yo professionals. They can't believe the (lack of) work ethic of the new hires. Times, they are a-changing'.


I honestly wonder if this is because many more college grads today are not working during college in professional environments. In college, I was a summer intern for the Fed govt and I learned a ton during those summers about how to conduct myself in an office environment.

This. School and work are two very different things. You can be a straight A student from a top college (whatever that means) and not be able to function in an office environment. I would not hire anyone based on grades and/or how they look on paper. I would look at their work experience, assess their communication skills in the interview, and call their references and hire based on those criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a professor at a good liberal arts college. Every semester I receive notice from the dean's office that a small number of students need extra time on tests/papers. In almost every case, I never hear or think about the issue again. I think that by the time students have been admitted to a competitive college most have developed compensating strategies and organizational skills. Also most do not want to draw attention to themselves and probably work hard to succeed. On very rare occasions I notice that a student does indeed need more time or is consistently distracted or disorganized. However, more often these are student with no documented issue--maybe something is going on in their lives, maybe their having too much fun in college, maybe they have been relying on their smarts and are a little overwhelmed with the freedom and greater demands in college (which, of course, will only become greater in real life). My point is that, in my experience, giving kids the support they need tends to work and lead to independence. But sometimes a person--any person--may encounter new demands and feel overwhelmed.

I like you.

[Anonymous]

This was interesting.

...The report, compiled by Julie Logan, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Cass Business School in London, found that more than a third of the entrepreneurs she had surveyed — 35 percent — identified themselves as dyslexic. The study also concluded that dyslexics were more likely than nondyslexics to delegate authority, to excel in oral communication and problem solving and were twice as likely to own two or more businesses...
William J. Dennis Jr., senior research fellow at the Research Foundation of the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade group in Washington, said the study’s results “fit into the pattern of what we know about small-business owners.”

“Entrepreneurs are hands-on people who push a minimum of paper, do lots of stuff orally instead of reading and writing, and delegate authority, all of which suggests a high verbal facility,” Mr. Dennis said. “Compare that with corporate managers who read, read, read.”

Indeed, according to Professor Logan, only 1 percent of corporate managers in the United States have dyslexia....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/business/06dyslexia.html?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Op are you sure she had accommodations? She could have just asked for more time and got some friend to take notes. All the kids I know who got accommodation would die before telling anyone.

[Anonymous]

What helped me was a book called the art of procrastination. It has helpful and useful hints on keeping to do lists. Procrastinators are lot lazy, just perfectionistswho are unable to start because they give themselves such high demands, even when an ok job is sufficient. The to do lists help because it prioritizes the things that you can do instead of doing what you are supposed to be doing. And so you accomplish a lot by being busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I honestly wonder if this is because many more college grads today are not working during college in professional environments. In college, I was a summer intern for the Fed govt and I learned a ton during those summers about how to conduct myself in an office environment.

Internships have changed. Most are menial jobs where you learn nothing, but sounds nice on resume. And they are only for those who can afford to do without a salary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone with a disability must still be able to perform the essential functions of their job, even with accommodations. It doesn't matter whether she received accommodations in school or not. She couldn't do her job. Whether or not she couldn't do her job may have had nothing to do with her disability, however. She may just have been a bad fit for your organization. Many new grads are not prepared for the work world and needing reminders, goofing around online, and being too talkative are hardly the hallmarks of a disabled young person.

This.

I'm hearing this from lots of late 40 yo professionals. They can't believe the (lack of) work ethic of the new hires. Times, they are a-changing'.

I honestly wonder if this is because many more college grads today are not working during college in professional environments. In college, I was a summer intern for the Fed govt and I learned a ton during those summers about how to conduct myself in an office environment.

You learned about professionalism from the federal government? *snort*

[Anonymous]

How is this different from affirmative action?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op are you sure she had accommodations? She could have just asked for more time and got some friend to take notes. All the kids I know who got accommodation would die before telling anyone.

Really? My DD is pretty comfortable with her LDs and doesn't hide it.