"Collaborative Problem-Solving" 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
Professor Brown, Mike, and his Disability Support Services (DSS) counselor meet two days after Mike's conversation disclosing his disability to the professor. It is approximately midway through the semester.The DSS Counselor: Thanks for coming Professor Brown. Mike has informed me that he has not been doing well in your Psychology 101 class. He also told me that he has missed several classes and that you are concerned that his absences will continue to impact his grade negatively.
The Professor, looking a little annoyed: Yes, I really don't see how I can help him if he is not in class. The textbook supplements my lecture; therefore, missing lectures will definitely impact his grades. I have made it clear during class and on the syllabus that I don't accept late assignments. I should not be expected to make exceptions for one student that I am not willing to make for all the other students.
Mike, looking anxiously at both Professor Brown and the DSS provider: But I did the work! I really did the work, I just couldn't…
The DSS Counselor: Mike, it is not a matter of whether you did the work or not. Professor Brown is not obligated to accommodate you prior to you disclosing that you have a disability. However, now that you have disclosed, we need to identify accommodations that will help you improve your class performance. Dr. Brown, I would like to start by first looking at the requirements for your course and how they interact with Mike's disability in the class. Since we make accommodations on a case-by-case basis, having a copy of the syllabus will help us determine the essential requirements of the course.
The Professor, looking a little more relaxed, hands the syllabus to the DSS Counselor: Here's a copy of my syllabus. On the syllabus, I have outlined the goals and objectives of the course. I have also given timelines and due dates which correspond to my lectures. During lectures, I give a lot of examples to clarify main ideas and review the previous lecture to tie them together.
The DSS Counselor: I can see from your syllabus that you have made your expectations clear by setting deadlines for assignments. It is really up to you whether you want to accept Mike's late assignments. From this point on, would you be willing to have Mike email his assignment to you by 5:00 PM on the date it's due, if he is unable to attend class? It sounds like attending class is quite helpful to the students, but it does not appear to be an essential component of the course. I think Mike could benefit from having access to the lecture notes. Is it possible for him to get a copy of the notes? That way, he can keep up.
If you were the professor in this situation, how would you respond to the suggestions made by the DSS Counselor?
