"Decision to Disclose" Case
Please read the following Case Description and possible Case Responses in this case. Select the button next to the best response. Then, click the "Answer" button to see the results. [Suggestion: Learn more about Determining the Appropriateness of a response before you answer.]Case Description
Suzanne is a freshman who is afraid to disclose her Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), even though it is affecting her grades. This is her first semester in college, and she isn't quite sure how it all "works" yet and is a little overwhelmed and insecure.Suzanne, looking frustrated, enters the Math lab and spots her TA, Carrie, sitting at one of the carrels. Carrie senses something is wrong and asks what is the matter. Suzanne says she is disappointed because she did really poorly on the math exam, even though she knew the information.
Carrie, looking surprised: I know you knew the information. You practically spent all last week studying here in the lab. What happened?
Suzanne: I don't know. I did well on the parts that I finished, but I left one-third of the exam blank! I just ran out of time(discouraged). I feel like maybe I'm not cut out to be a college student.
Carrie, looking puzzled: Why didn't you have enough time? Did you use the entire class session?
Suzanne (in an animated voice and demonstrating): Well, to start with, the girl next to me kept banging her pencil on her desk. It was like a drum, beating over and over. And the guy in front of me kept running his hand through his hair, and it was in my peripheral vision. Every time he did that, or the drummer-girl would get going, I would get off track and forget where I was. And then when the other students started turning in their tests (throwing her hands up) that was the last straw! It ruined any concentration I had left.
Carrie, (looking sympathetic): That's rough. I hate when that happens. Maybe next time you can sit where you can scoot away from everyone. I think you'll do better on the next one. Don't worry, it happens to all of us.
Suzanne, (looking apprehensively at Carrie): I don't know. I have ADD. Have you ever heard of Attention Deficit Disorder? It's a disorder where people have a difficult time focusing. I definitely think that ADD makes it more difficult for me to take tests than other students. I know I am intelligent, but it's so hard for me to prove my intelligence on exams. It's just… just not a natural format for me to show what I've learned! To put me in a room with squirming, noisy students and tell me to ignore them and focus on one test for the whole class period… that's quite a challenge.
Carrie, (sitting a little straighter): How did you handle taking exams in high school?
Suzanne: Extra work! Once I was diagnosed, my life changed. I began taking medication which improved my concentration, and I started seeing a counselor. I was able to get my grades high enough to get into college. But now, I so desperately want to be a regular student. You know, you're the only person that I've told about it, Carrie. I'm so scared of being judged by someone that doesn't understand it, or worse, that doesn't believe it exists. People might think I'm just lazy.
Carrie: Do you know about Disability Support Services (DSS) on campus?
Suzanne: Yes, I registered there a while ago, but I do not use them…it makes me feel "different." Having to go there is just a reminder of what happened in high school, of when I was sent to the resource room. It was so embarrassing. I felt so singled out for my disability.
If you were the TA in this situation, how would you respond?
