Arguementative Essay

8/4/2019 Arguementative Essay

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Frank McGee

October 19, 2010

B. Wilson

Sketch

Students and Disabilities: What Accommodations Can do to Help

There are many students with various disabilities in school, falling behind

other students in an average classroom, not understanding what is being taught, let

alone given a chance to do so to properly learn. Why is it that so many students

dont succeed? What could help them out, one would ask? If students with

disabilities were granted accommodations often and on a regular basis, they have

the opportunity to succeed with everyone else, and excel in school.

Now, the main question is, why give out accommodations? Why should

administrations at various schools, private academies to public schools? Why give

students who are struggling a litter perk? That little perk, could be the little help

they need. Whether its seeing another students notes because their original ones

arent of perfect quality, or the fact that they need to take an examination in a quiet

area, or even an extension of time for taking it. Why give a student a failing grade in

a course, when they have potential to pass and werent otherwise given a chance to

redeem themselves?

I support this point because, I, myself, have been diagnosed with a learning

disability, called Asphergers Syndrome, a form of autism, at a very young age. It


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stunted my learning skills as well as my social growth. According to ASCEND

Groups website:

What is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger Syndrome (AS) is neurologically based and is classified as apervasive developmental disorder (PDD) or autism spectrum disorder

(ASD). Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician, first identified it in

1944. Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1994. Related diagnoses

include: High-Functioning Autism, Nonverbal Learning Disability,

Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, and PDD-NOS.

Psychologist Tony Attwood, considered one of the top experts in the

field, likes to describe AS as "having a brain that's wired differentlynot defectively." That's more than just an analogy. Recently, scientists

in Great Britain published findings that showed there are significantdifferences in the connectivity of nerve cells in the brains of people

with AS. The more severe the symptoms, the more abnormal the MRI

scans.

But even so, not everyone with autism, or Asphergers for that matter, are the

same. As about.coms website for Symptoms of Autism Differ from Person to Person,

There is a saying in the autism field: "if you've metone person with autism, you've

met one person with autism." In other words: every person on the autism spectrum

is unique, and one person's set of symptoms is just that ... one person's symptoms of

autism! This is, in part, because autism is a spectrum disorder: you can be a little

autistic or very autistic. Because of Autisms variation in different people, special

accommodations might need to be adjusted. Some people only need a few

accommodations (ie meet with instructor, take test in another location), while other

students might need many more (ie extra time for tests, note sharing). It all

depends on the person and what they need.


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Though many people claim they are helping those with learning disabilities,

(in this case, autism), and it does help many, there are also those who refuse to use

any accommodations, and act like a normal human being. As the Mission Statemen

of the ASAN states (Austistic Self Advocacy Network):

Mission Statement:

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of

the disability rights movement in the world of autism. Drawing on the

principles of the cross-disability community on issues such as inclusive

education, community living supports and others, ASAN seeks to organize

the community of Autistic adults and youth to have our voices heard in the

national conversation about us. In addition, ASAN seeks to advance theidea of neurological diversity, putting forward the concept that the goal of

autism advocacy should not be a world without Autistic people. Instead, it

should be a world in which Autistic people enjoy the same access, rights

and opportunities as all other citizens. Working in fields such as public

policy, media representation, research and systems change, ASAN hopes

to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of their own

lives and the future of our common community. Nothing About Us,

Without Us!

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization

run by and for Autistic people. ASAN's supporters include Autistic adults

and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members,

professionals, educators and friends. ASAN was created to provide

support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum while working

to change public perception and combat misinformation by educating

communities about persons on the autism spectrum. Our activities include

public policy advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion

and respect for neurodiversity, quality of life oriented research and the

development of Autistic cultural activities and other opportunities for

Autistic people to engage with others on the spectrum.

ASAN initiatives include the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in

Research and Education (AASPIRE), an active Speaker's Bureau and

advocacy in support of autism and disability-related issues such as de-

institutionalization and community living supports, educational

opportunity and inclusion, employment supports and other initiatives at

both state and federal levels.


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Basically, when it comes to disabilities and accommodations, I propose that

they be made readily available to those who are eligible, but at the same time, give

the person a choice as to whether or not they want to utilize them. It is up to the

person themself. Sure, they may have a disability in learning, but they are still fully

functioning human being, able to speak for themselves. Yay or nay is all they have to

say to a simple question, Do I want to use these accommodations presented to me

or not? It is all in their hands.

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Arguementative Essay