Reasonable accommodation

At our department meeting this morning, the subject of reasonable accommodation for students with learning disabilities came up. One of the new things that we're doing, spearheaded by the assistant academic dean and the counseling department, is the creation of a notebook with a page for each student with a documented learning disability that details the student's strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Teachers are expected to look up those students who are in their classes and read the students' profiles, then make accommodations accordingly.

That opened up a whole can of worms. Some teachers were all in favor of accommodating students; others thought that students used the accommodations as crutches. Some felt the one-page reports were asking too much of the teachers. I pointed out that were we a public school, we'd be required by law to do IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for all students with documented learning disabilities or disabilities that influenced their learning (like hearing impairment). An IEP can run to 10+ pages and involves an annual meeting with each student, the student's parents, the counselor, and the teachers. Comparatively, we're getting off easily.

Still, people brought up the following: Students may be uncomfortable asking for extended time in public. Students get diagnosed by family friends or others who may or may not have a stake in the students' academic success. Students who are from wealthier families may have greater access to testing since we don't do it in-house. Students who do not have documented learning disabilities don't get teacher continuity or requests for specific teachers honored. Parents try to work the system to give their children unfair advantages. Teachers aren't included in the process to the extent that perhaps they ought to be. And so on.

I know that people try to game the system. Heck, I've seen people do it. There isn't much to be done about that. However, should all the students suffer because a few take advantage?

I just don't know what's reasonable and what isn't.