[Athen] Classroom Accommodations

[eileen berger]

Hi all,
If the student is disabled by his condition he can seek access through the 
Disability services Office. He may have need of campus transportation 
services, a referral to medical services for other illnesses or conditions 
including chronic joint pain, etc. that often accompany morbid obesity.

Students can ask ad hoc for any accommodations they want but are always in 
the uncomfortable position of having to explain circumstances to everyone. 
The student should be referred to his Disability Services offices which 
would notify not only the lab but arrange to have accessible seating or 
other accommodations that is/are reasonable and appropriate for events, 
programs and classes the student attends.

I agree with Ron that a facilities plan for furniture should include having 
sturdy chairs without arms in each classroom, lab etc.

Eileen Berger
\HGSE
Access and Disability Services
617 495 9608




--On Monday, March 03, 2008 12:24 PM -0500 Ron Stewart 
<ron.stewart at dolphinusa.com> wrote:


>

>

> I think the prudent thing to do would be to have it available upon need

> and it should be a standard part of every facilities plan in my opinion.

> It would also be a great step forward to have a variety of seating

> options available in our classrooms.

>

>

>

> I know I don't typically fit into those wonderful student desks in most

> campuses.

>

>

>

> Ron Stewart

>

>

>

>

> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

> Behalf Of McNamee, Bridget

> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:51 AM

> To: athen at athenpro.org

> Subject: [Athen] Classroom Accommodations

>

>

>

> Good Morning All,

>

>      I have a situation that I would like to run by you.  One of our

> enrolled students for the Fall, 08 semester has disclosed himself as

> morbidly obese.  He does not use a wheelchair, but has difficulty

> climbing stairs, etc.  Our concern lies with the furniture even though

> the student and his family have not expressed any concerns about this.

> However, my colleagues and I feel that the student will have some issues

> fitting in to some of the seating situations on campus.  We are also

> concerned about the weight capacity of the furniture.  My question is, do

> we arrange for alternative seating in advance of the students arrival

> even though he has not asked for it, or do we wait for the student to

> bring it up.  We are trying to avoid any uncomfortable/embarrassing

> moments but we do not want to make assumptions about what the student

> needs because of the sensitive situation.   Any advice would be helpful.

>

> Bridget

>

>

>

> Bridget McNamee

>

> Disability Outreach Specialist

>

> Wentworth Institute of Technology

>

> 550 Huntington Avenue

>

> Boston, MA 02115-4998

>

> (617) 989-4544

>

>