Reply to Wall Street Journal on rampant growth in percentage of college students with “disabilities”

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If anyone was curious about what disability accommodations look like specifically from Pomona: https://www.pomona.edu/accessibility/student-accessibility/accommodation-services

[quote]
[b]Test-Taking Accommodations
[/b]50% or 100% additional time on traditional tests
Quiet location for testing
Computer test reader
Dragon Naturally Speaking as a test writing resource
Use of computer to type essay exams
Assistive technology for exams or for course work
Spelling and punctuation considerations on exams
Classroom Accommodations
Notes or course notes
Permission to record the course lecture
Preferential seating
Course handouts in an enlarged font
Course handouts in an electronic format
Use of service animal in the classroom
Assistive technology in classroom

[b]Mobility Accommodations
[/b]Relocating classrooms, lab, field trips and living spaces in accessible locations.
Pomona Medical Supply will provide carts and mobility devices.
Foreign Language Exemption
All exemptions are processed through the Academic Procedure Committee. Contact the Associate Dean of Students to assist with this process.

[b]Emotional Support Animals
[/b]To obtain permission to have an emotional support animal on campus, review the pets in residence hall policy and have the medical professional complete the emotional support animal application form. Once that is completed, contact the Dean of Students Office to secure permission to have an emotional support animal on campus.

[b]Housing Accommodations
[/b]Please contact the Dean of Students Office to secure permission to have an air conditioner or single room.[/quote]

Here is the form students fill out: https://www.pomona.edu/sites/default/files/disability-request-for-services.pdf and the one professionals do: https://www.pomona.edu/sites/default/files/disability-documentation-form.pdf

I find it strange that the student form asks- "What accommodations do you need?" Shouldn't this be to the judgement of the professional solely? If the student form is the primary way accommodations are assigned, the potential for abuse is significant.

A further look at "tips for accommodations" gives far too much leverage, IMO, for students to create accommodations as they WANT rather than as they NEED (or as is reasonable). https://www.pomona.edu/accessibility/student-accessibility/accommodation-services/how-make-most-your-academic-accommodations

Pomona's Common Data Set states that 94% of entering students ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Their profile states 27% of enrolled students ranked valedictorian. Pomona seems to bend over backwards to accommodate students that I could not imagine happening at any high school. Those students clearly thrived academically- most without needing accommodations in the first place. They're not suddenly going to come into college unable to handle the lifestyle or workload. The reality is that Pomona needs to take a long hard look on the ease which it allows accommodations and ensure that the students who genuinely need them are getting the bulk of the resources.  [/quote]

The free "market" will sort all this out by declining to hire Pomona grads, then smart students and their parents will revolt and demand standards.  Smart students won't allow the devaluation of their hard won credential (the diploma) by the allowance of practices (e.g. excessive accommodation) that are not respected by prospective employers.  The same problem afflicts POC who are the beneficiaries of affirmative action - people rationally question whether a POC doctor is capable or a beneficiary of "special accommodations".  Of course there are many capable and even brilliant POC doctors (e.g. Ben Carson) but their achievement is called into question by the practices of affirmative action.  Meet the standard, don't lower it.[/quote]

Or they will do just fine.  I don't think you're getting it.  People who need accommodations in college often succeed very well in their careers and needing accommodations isn't reflective of intellect.  In fact, those that have to work harder to do as well as their peers in school often do better when they're no longer being judged in such an artificial environment.

[/quote]

What you say was true in the past. But it does not grapple with the fact that it's facially ridiculous that a full 20% of kids in a well-to-to Chicago suburb are somehow so disabled as to need ACT accommodations.  [/quote]

+1 With this generation, parents don't want to accept that perhaps their child is not "college material." They'll medicate them, provide extensive private tutoring, pay for assistance in writing their essays, etc. ANYTHING to be sure their child is college bound. [/quote]

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