In my role as a college professor I sometimes have students in my classes with disabilities. These disabilities have been documented and certain leeway or latitude is provided subject to the recommendation of the Disability Services department of the college, i.e., a student might be allowed to have additional time to complete a project or test, or they might be provided the opportunity to take the test in isolation from others so as not to be disturbed by sights or sounds.
I have such a student in my class this semester. I cannot define the student's disability, even anonymously; still, suffice it to say that the student is very bright, while at the same time having disabilities that should and do recieve special attention.
The student has not been able to be in class for quite some time. A note taker was assigned by the Disability Services department. She is a young lady from a foreign land, a land that obviously takes responsibility seriously. She has appeared in all the classes that the student missed and she has taken copious notes.
Today was exam day. I noticed that the student with disabilities was not in class. I did not notice that the note taker was in class. She was in class, she took the exam, she signed the student with disabilities name to the test, and came up to hand turn in the exam.
I of course told her that she could not take the test in the name of another student. She seemed surprised and disappointed that she could not finish her work. She had studied hard for the test and had wanted to do well for the student who could not be in class for the test.
Things must truly be different in the land that she calls home.
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