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][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As an infant, my daughter had crossed eyes. Strabismus is a condition that can be treated a number of ways and affects many people both rich and poor.  We chose to have surgery.  There are many children who don't have access to healthcare that have the same condition as my daughter.  They grow up with crossed eyes.  This puts them at a disadvantage because of the way they look.  Fortunately we had the access and means to make that surgery happen and today she is a beautiful young woman with straight eyes.  The fact that others do not have access does not mean my daughter should not have had the surgery, correct?  Because the argument seems to be that wealthy people should not have an advantage over poor people.  I keep hearing that over and over again.  The sad truth is that poor people are disadvantaged and always will be no matter how much money we throw at the problem.  It is unfortunate, but it does not mean that others should do without.[/quote]

I can’t understanf how you arrived at such a conclusion. What is being argued is that people w many privileges already are using their wealth and connections to gain bogus accomodations for their children. Unless u are a member of the private prep school scene, you have no idea. And it is not difficult to get an accomodation - we are talking of people w many connections also.[/quote]

I am the PP.  My son goes to a private all boys high school, so I am familiar with the scene.  He is on accommodations, which is why I have been following this thread.  He is hardly getting bogus accommodations.  I don't ask him what friends have accommodations.  I don't think it is any of my business.

This thread has not just been about bogus accommodations.  There are people saying that everyone should get extra time.  There are people saying that accommodations should not be given, period.  And some are just attacking the wealthy because somehow we should not be allowed to use our resources to get our kids help.

My DS was diagnosed with ADHD and slow processing in elementary school.  He has been using accommodations throughout elementary, middle, and high school.  Basically he gets extended time.  He used to get preferential seating, but he doesn't seem to need it as much now that he has matured.  I would not consider him a "severe" case.

Years ago, before the awareness, he may have been considered a trouble maker.  Why?  Because he has a hard time sitting still and focusing.  Medication is not an option because of side effects, so we have been dealing with it organically.  Recently, we had had him work with a tutor to help him prep for the ACT, and the tutor always tells me that any errors he makes on practice tests have been careless errors (errors of calculation--not knowledge of how to do a problem).  The tutor helped him realize what was happening and to help him to take a breath and go back, slow down, and check everything.  DS did amazingly well on the ACT, because he is gifted and has high working memory.  On the other hand, his processing speed is severely low.  He is one of these 2E kids people have been discussing.  I am grateful that he was able to get the accommodations to truly demonstrate his intelligence and knowledge.  [b]He got a 36 on the ACT[/b], and while he is not interested in going to a top 10 school, we have our eyes set on some selective schools.

I know people may consider this a bogus accommodation simply because DS scored so high.  As much as you would like to believe this, it is simply not true.  Without the accommodations, we don't know for sure what he would have gotten, but he would have made those careless errors, and that perfect score would not have been possible.  And because we have the means to help him, we are the evil wealthy that are "gaming the system."  Say what you want, but I will NOT let my kid fail by denying him something that will help him succeed and that he is clearly and legally entitled to.  I have friends who do not have the same access to finances that we do who also have 2E kids, and they managed to help their kids utilizing the public school resources.  One even was able to get her daughter an IEP.  So you don't need wealth to help your kids.  The money only provides convenience, access to more testing, and other conveniences like tutoring, etc.

I am tired of the attack on the wealthy and privileged.  I grew up with no privilege to speak of.  Neither of my parents went to college and my family was extremely dysfunctional.  I grew up on the third floor of a tenement house with crumbling walls.  I was not encouraged nor did not go to college until after I worked for a few years and then took classes at night time eventually getting a degree.  Today for various reasons, I am able to give my kids what I did not have growing up, and I will NOT have someone tell me I don't or he doesn't deserve it.  I worked my ass off for what I have and I do not appreciate the derogatory comments about my status or how I decide to spend my money.
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This is just absurd to me.  He needed accommodations to get a perfect score?  Do you even hear yourself?
Of course you are going to be all self righteous about it.  Go on with your big bad self in your privledged little bubble.
Your son is a genius (with accommodations).  You win.[/quote]

Yup, we win.  Because he is a genius being held back by a disability.  Do you see now?  Your average kid will never be able to get a perfect score...even with double or triple time.[/quote]

Actually my son is not average - without accommodations.  So maybe we win?[/quote]

Oh, I see.  Below average then.  Maybe you should get an evaluation.[/quote]

DP. You sound awful. [/quote]

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