Learning Disabled students as teachers? -Reply

[Stephanie Nichols]

Hi my name is Stephanie Nichols. I'm the Lead Interpreter at Oklahoma
City Community College, and this is my first post.
Addressing only part of your post-

snipped____________________________________________________>>> Marshall Mitchell
<mit...@WSU.EDU> 07/15/97 11:21am >>>
I would think this would be a good thing...but maybe I'm wrong. Some
teachers on my campus are a bit vocal on this issue.
Thank you!
Michele
snipped____________________________________________________

I have ADHD (all through secondary ed. thought to be LD). I interpret, tutor
and teach Deaf students. I also teach recreation/ community Sign
Language classes. I am not a certified teacher nor do I have a degree in
teaching.
Because of the "different" ways I have learned to learn, I feel I am an
asset to other students with the same difficulty. To be able to recognize
when communication/ learning is not happening is half the battle, but
having the experience of changing the approach i.e., long division to a ball
of play-doh and pennies benefits the students. Because I know how I
needed to learn, I can help students learn through different, sometimes
crazy, avenues. We learn (or teach)- although many would be disturbed
to watch! (smile)

Stephanie Nichols
Lead Interpreter
Oklahoma City Community College

[Tina Poag McMechen]

to stephanie:

just the briefly mentioned alternative teaching methods have really
sparked my interest. would you mind sharing, through the list or
privately, some other examples? or is there a book somewhere with
this kind of stuff in it. i have to lecture alot to students (ld and
non-ld), and this sounds like it would be right up my alley!

thanks!

tina mcmechen
mid-south community college
tmcm...@mscc.cc.ar.us

> Date sent: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 12:04:02 -0500
> Send reply to: Disabled Student Services in Higher Education
> <DSS...@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
> From: Stephanie Nichols <SNic...@OKC.CC.OK.US>
> Subject: Re: Learning Disabled students as teachers? -Reply
> To: DSS...@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU

[Catalina Colaci]

Hi, Stephanie

Your message touched me personally. Though so far I am still a TAB
(Temporarly Abled Body) and my LD affects only my sense of
direction/orientation... I do have a "disadvantage" over my peers and
colleagues: I was born in one country, from where I emigrated to Canada 21
years ago,I have an accent that I cannot shake, and I use creative
approaches to problem-solving and learning strategies. To make things
'worse' I read a lot (I'm an information junkie), have a very good sense of
humor and I am able to "explain complicated concepts and theories in a
simple, clear way" -as per one performance evaluation-. Could you believe
that often I am being looked-down by some of my peers because they don't
'take me seriously'? Did you ever were asked "from where did you get that
technique or strategy... from which specific course/book, etc."? ... Oh,
the joys of being creative and/or different! On the other hand, being that
way, helps a great deal to reach more learners, and to help more people

Chau, for now

Catalina Colaci <col...@yukoncollege.yk.ca>
Coordinator
Learning Assistance Centre & Support Services to Students with Disabilities

YUKON COLLEGE Whitehorse, Yukon CANADA

[Michele Morabito]

Thank you for all the wonderful discussion! I have learned and
understood so much in the last few weeks. So thank you again.

The question was whether students with LD can be teachers
themselves.
The question also has personal significance to me, as well as
professional, since my sister has LD and she is trying to go into spec ed
but she is being told basically she cannot go into teaching because she
has LD. I think she would make a wonderful teacher and has kept to her
goal despite many many criticisms from many different people since she
was 2. This new criticism is the most hurtful though because it looks like
she is going to be blocked from entering the program. But we ae
working on it. If anyone has studies out there, I would appreciate
knowing about them.
Thank you!
Michele
~~~~~~~~~
WPU, Admin.

>>> RAM <rama...@STUDENT.UMASS.EDU> 07/16/97 05:01pm >>>
The initial question was whether or not learning disabled students should
be teachers, and you responded to that question by describing a person
with
LD who was a poor teacher. Naturally, it would seem to readers that
you
were using that example as support for a position, for an answer to the
question.