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I was perusing the internet and came across an article about the Real Housewives of New Jersey, specifically the recent incident concerning Caroline Manzo and her son Albie. Albie, a hard working youngman with dreams of becoming an attorney, basically did not maintain the appropriate GPA and was asked to leave his law school. It was revealed that he has a language processing disorder and that it had been difficult for him that first year. It was also revealed that a law professor was nasty and condescending in telling Albie that persons like him won’t do well in the law field. Now I do not know any of the actors in questions in this drama, but what I do know is something about law school and something about higher education and accommodations for disabilities.
To begin with, that law professor is an asshat, big time. Of course, that should also come as no surprise for those of you who have been through law school and even remain in the practice of law. It seems that there is an overwhelming abundance of asshats in the legal profession, and yes a lot of them go into politics; republican, democrat or independent. (OK that is going to be my only foray into that for right now). I have to say that over the decades since I graduated from law school the tone of the legal business has even changed. It is no longer a “gentleman’s profession”, there is a reason the lawyers are also called “esquires.” It is because the English gentleman esquire was considered the epitome of legal decorum. What has happened however is that the legal profession has turned into a knock down drag out fight to the finish and may the best person, or the one who can connive the best win. This is not to disparage the descent among the attorneys (hubby being an amazingly honest, forthright and most descent of human beings and attorney), who are the overwhelming majority. But remember that song, “one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch,” or at least give the whole bunch a really bad name.
That professor is such an intolerant and ignorant man without the concept and understanding of what a disability is and how people with disabilities can learn to function in the neurotypical world. Does anyone not think that there are thousands of lawyers in this country and the entire world that have disabilities of every kind? Me thinks that that man needs to get his head out of the world of education and allow someone who understands teaching and preparing future minds do the job. There is no way that that professor should be telling anyone what they should or should not do with their lives. Apart from the fact that this may actually rise to the level of some form of discrimination on the part of the professor, it also reminds me of what collegeman went through with the Dean of the Drama department at his college. (Here) So asshats are not found in law school alone.
I have to say that there are many roads that a student with a disability can take in college and graduate school. In fact, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) there are accommodations that the schools should be giving to persons with disabilities. Now, post-secondary education is not like K-12 where there is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that ensures not only accommodations but mandated supports and therapies for those with quantifiable and diagnosed disabilities. But there are enough supports and accommodations under the ADA that can be given and that are basically de rigueur in today’s world. In fact, the Bar Exams of every state has an application process for persons with disabilities. (Maybe someone should show that professor the law of the state where he lives).
Some of these accommodations are (but not exclusively): alternative location for exams, use of a computer, double time for testing, use of a note taker during class, the allowance of service animals, readers for the blind and interpreters for the deaf and even study programs for those with disabilities. Some post-secondary instructions allow the student to tape the lectures so they can review them at a later time, and there are even laptop programs that allow you to record and
That professor is such an intolerant and ignorant man without the concept and understanding of what a disability is and how people with disabilities can learn to function in the neurotypical world. Does anyone not think that there are thousands of lawyers in this country and the entire world that have disabilities of every kind? Me thinks that that man needs to get his head out of the world of education and allow someone who understands teaching and preparing future minds do the job. There is no way that that professor should be telling anyone what they should or should not do with their lives. Apart from the fact that this may actually rise to the level of some form of discrimination on the part of the professor, it also reminds me of what collegeman went through with the Dean of the Drama department at his college. (Here) So asshats are not found in law school alone.
I have to say that there are many roads that a student with a disability can take in college and graduate school. In fact, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) there are accommodations that the schools should be giving to persons with disabilities. Now, post-secondary education is not like K-12 where there is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that ensures not only accommodations but mandated supports and therapies for those with quantifiable and diagnosed disabilities. But there are enough supports and accommodations under the ADA that can be given and that are basically de rigueur in today’s world. In fact, the Bar Exams of every state has an application process for persons with disabilities. (Maybe someone should show that professor the law of the state where he lives).
Some of these accommodations are (but not exclusively): alternative location for exams, use of a computer, double time for testing, use of a note taker during class, the allowance of service animals, readers for the blind and interpreters for the deaf and even study programs for those with disabilities. Some post-secondary instructions allow the student to tape the lectures so they can review them at a later time, and there are even laptop programs that allow you to record and
