Posted on 10/17/2010 2:34:47 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Zach Neff is all high-fives as he walks through his college campus in western Missouri. The 27-year-old with Down syndrome hugs most everybody, repeatedly. He tells teachers he loves them.
"I told Zach we are putting him on a hug diet - one to say hello and one to say goodbye," said Joyce Downing, who helped start a new program at the University of Central Missouri that serves students with disabilities.
The hope is that polishing up on social skills, like cutting back on the hugs, living in residence halls and going to classes with non-disabled classmates will help students like Neff be more independent and get better jobs.
In years past, college life was largely off-limits for students with such disabilities, but that's no longer the case. Students with Down syndrome, autism and other conditions that can result in intellectual disabilities are leaving high school more academically prepared than ever and ready for the next step: college.
Eight years ago, disability advocates were able to find only four programs on university campuses that allowed students with intellectual disabilities to experience college life with extra help from mentors and tutors. As of last year, there were more than 250 spread across more than three dozen states and two Canadian provinces, said Debra Hart, head of Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, which provides services to people with disabilities. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
What jobs? Someone isn't paying attention to Barry's "new norm".
Wrong title. “Intellectually Disabled” is the term that applies to how most students come out of college these days.
This, and they take up space in public universities that should go to others.
This says more about the (lack of) value of a modern college education than anything else.
There was an intern Electrical Engineer at the close of her junior year, in my company and couldn’t grasp transmission and receive. What the hell.........
Barky wen t to college in the 1980s. Barky is the very definition of intelectually disabled.
College and University for too many is mostly or all socialization rather than academeic education.
oops
academic (duh, did I go to college ;-)
Downs? He should get a full ride for a degree in Poli-Sci.
Great, they want to turn college educations into what high school educations have become. Worthless.
Pretty much what I thought when I read this. I mean, I am all for giving help to the disadvantaged, disabled, etc., within reason, but this is just way too silly.
Universities used to be serious places. Of course, in many parts of the world, they still are. But much less so in America these days.
Self esteem trumps all, it seems.
I have would have no problem with limited tax payer funding of student education, say for doctors, etc--but those students upon graduation need to give back. In a new doctor's case, serve rural and under served communities. Tain't nothing free folks.
As for the intellectually disabled. I see no use in taxpayer money to fund such education, except that it makes us "feel good" In the end, what will this citizen contribute? Its a tough question and not a nice one to ask--But in these difficult economic times, they must be asked.
Now if the family, or the intellectually disabled person themselves wished to pay for their education--then of course--no problem. I just don't see scholarships and what not being granted to these students.
Its crass, I know, but in the end, its takes more than hugs to contribute to society. That's why I see this on the more local community college level.
As the mother of three mentally/developmentally disabled boys I have to disagree with this. Seriously, my boys are not and will not be cut out for college or ‘white collar’ jobs. The mentally disabled CAN work and CAN hold descent jobs but to try to ‘mainstream’ my boys would be cruel to them. They are wonderful individuals that have many skills that can benefit themselves and society but to try to make them into something they are not is wrong. They are not ‘normal’ in the most accepted sense of the word but they are exactly what God wanted them to be.
American universities were among the best in the world. However, such a position required a focus on education and achievement by merit; these are anathema to the left. This is the end result of the “All children are winners!” mentality that has become entrenched in many of our educational institutions from elementary school to university.
These kids should be encouraged to learn trades if they are able. Putting them into situations that they are not mentally capable of handling is cruel.
Yes, they already have. University study should be for the very bright who are going deeply into a field of study. It should NOT be for everyone. After high school, everyone, including kids with Down Syndrome, should be learning a skill, a trade, something that will help them have the best life possible. Studying literature, languages, science, or math should be left to people who wish to do this for a living OR who can afford such study because they desire it, at any age.
Yep. I am a college teacher and I get official missives all the time from counselors requesting that I extend examination times, assignments content and change presentation methods to accommodate the learning disabilities (ADD, dyslexia etc) of specific students. Athough it is an adminstrative nightmare to do so, I comply to provide a good faith learning experience for all students. Having said that, I do have to wonder at the logic that “college is for everybody.”
I can see the lawsuits now. “Your honor, my client lost the promotion because he’s intellectually disabled. In fact, only 14% of XYZ Corporation’s executive officers have Downs Syndrome. A blatant example of intelligence discrimination”
It's not about learning, it's about the "experience".
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