<p>How highly regarded are disabled students on elite college campuses? Are they oftentimes socially ostracized? Can they garner the mutual respect of their collegiate peers? </p>
<p>Seeking input from either parents of whom currently have disabled children in university and/or educators at the undergraduate level that work closely with such disabled students (or equivalent background)...</p>
<p>Other Considerations:
- Are they able to establish a sense of "belonging" ?
- How do they tend to fare in the dating/romantic game ?
- Are they at a disadvantage for securing profesional relationships? </p>
<p>Motivations for Post: Sympathetic inclination to spread awareness/knowledge with the intention of improving the lives of disabled collegiate students</p>
<p>Watch this video and you will be amazed about how accepting and supportive some students are to their fellow classmates. I think a lot depends on the outlook of each individual and how he/she involves him/herself with their classmates and their school. </p>
<p>(On a personal note, for your questions)
-absolutely!
-didn’t date while on campus/still w/ hs girlfriend
-Never an issue; fared well in that regard</p>
<p>One of my youngest son’s best friends has cerebral palsy …walks with a pronounced limp, and arms are spastic/stiff. The young man has a lot of friends. He pledged the same fraternity with my son when they were freshmen. That is how they became friends. They are now college seniors.</p>
<p>I founded a learning disabled student association when I was at umich a couple of years ago. I found a lot of people were very open and kind to me, but I also found that a lot of people felt threatened by the fact that I received accommodations for my disabilities. My perception a lot of the time was that some of my classmates were so gifted that they had a difficult time imagining how someone could be similarly gifted but also have a learning disability. I created my group to help combat that and generally found people to be open to education about disabilities. Overall, my experience was positive. I was socially, romantically, and academically successful.</p>
<p>Disabilities vary tremendously–some are totally invisible while others are much more obvious. Reactions also vary considerably. My kids both registered with the disabilities office because both have documented (invisible) physical conditions that can cause them to have frequent and prolonged absences. Both were well accepted and made lots of friends in HS & college. Much depends on the individuals involved, how much work they have to devote to relationships, and their interests, as well as those they encounter.</p>
<p>Some others I have met/spoken with have had positive experiences while others have had negative experiences. These broad generalizations are not very helpful or meaningful, I feel.</p>
<p>I think physical disabilities are actually more accepted than learning disabilites Accomodations for learning disabilities are seen as somehow “cheating” by neuro normal students – they can’t “see” the disability like they can many physical disabilities.</p>
<p>Many people behave cruelly towards students with disabilities. I feel that a lack of understanding tends to be a factor in such conflicts. By spreading awareness, we can make headway in countering such persecution. </p>
<p>Additionally, there is also the condition of commitment. In order for many friendships to thrive, a condition of commitment is required. However, a blind person cannot partake in the same activities of that of the traditional individual. For example, you cannot mutually enjoy a video game with a blind person. Likewise, a severely hearing-impaired individual suffers from similar isolation - they cannot accompany their peers to social gatherings without being put at risk for an embarrassing situation.</p>
<p>S’s high school classmate was born with one arm. He is at Harvard, and by all accounts has had no issues with acceptance by his classmates. Not sure what type of disabilities you are thinking of, though …</p>
