While I agree with Sean that the challenge of facilitating a class of diverse students, especially ones with disabilties, can be difficult, I find that understanding what the disabilties are and how to reach each student can be key to successful classroom learning/teaching. I am lucky to teach (and work) at a college that has an academic learning specialist that works with these students, faculty, and staff to support the students with learning disabilities (we call them "differences" rather than "disabilities" to further indicate the potential rather than deficit). The specialist works individually with the student and faculty to even out the classroom environment. Sometimes this works well in getting the disabled student "up to speed" as well as giving faculty tools on how to better facilitate this environment. With proper communication and education of the faculty that teach these students, we have greater engagement by the whole class and overall success.

P.S: As a side note: I would also caution that all disabilties do not play out the same in the classroom. A student with ADD (learning disability) verses one with bi-polar disorder (emotional disability) must be addressed in a different way. As Sean stated, here is where the art of facilitating comes in. I find this to be a beautiful moment for potential growth of both the student and teacher's learning.

Every school have protocols regarding challenged students and these policies should be followed to the letter as much as possible for the welfare of the student, the school staff, and the school as well. If there are questions or gray areas in these protocols, the school Administration should address these questions immediately.

 

 As our school is vocational,working with students with disabilities is a real challenge. In most cases I have found that this type of student is usually quite motivated and what I try to do is give them the means to be sucessful. This can mean giving them their own work area or additional help before and after class. This must be done carefully because most do not want to think they are given special treatment. This is a fine line but I must say I have been thanked by all that have been in my class for being understanding but not too accomidating thusly allowing them to earn what they did on their own.

I have had a few challenging experiences in the class with students who had learning disabilities. I used alot of visual adds and gave them easier ways to study to help them retain the information. I do alot of hands on which works well with students who struggle. This keeps them motivates and giving alot of positive feeds back also makes them more enthusiastic and motivated.

Please visit this website that I am apart of and love more then anything. It is called rareshare and it is about peope with rare diseases and disabilities. It is totally free for anyone to join and share there story of what disease or disability they have. But the best thing about rareshare is you will find that maybe some of your students maybe suffering from what others on this website are and your students or anyone knew that maybe those with disabilities could be suffering from one of the many rare some never heard of rare diseases. Your student would benefit so much by joining rareshare, cause it's a place they can goto and never feel alone or even different as they can learn about what others are dealing with and share what they are to.