George Fox welcomes students with disabilities
Margaret Diepenbrock, Guest Reporter
November 7, 2007
Curtis Norton, freshman at George Fox University, transitions to college like every other first-year student. However, Norton, legally blind since birth, has more steps to take with the adjustment than most freshmen. Norton said, "[The transition from high school to college] has been a lot smoother than I thought, but it's not simplistically easy."
Norton said in high school, "the bridges of communication" were built with his teachers by the time he graduated. Now he must "start from scratch" in attending a new institution.
Rick Muthiah, head of the disabilities program, makes accommodations for Norton. Muthiah said any time a student with a disability attends the university, the question should be, "What can we do to allow students to come?" The question should not be, according to Muthiah, "Can they make it?"
To allow Norton to access texts, Muthiah first sees if the textbook is available as a Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).
If it is not, Muthiah scans the text as a word document, allowing Curtis to have the document on his computer. With a program called JAWS, Norton is able to have the text electronically read to him through the computer. The same process occurs for assignments and documents from professors.
Norton said math and science textbooks will need to be ordered in Braille.
Muthiah said having a blind student allows the professors to examine how they are teaching. For example, they must consider how to use visual aids, so the visually impaired can get just as much out of class time as other students.
Other accommodations that took place for Norton, according to Muthiah, are contacting housing about Norton's Seeing Eye dog and hiring a tutor to work with him on math. Muthiah said that while there are legal obligations for the university to accommodate any disabled person, there are also higher moral obligations.
"Each person has a right to an education, and those working for an institution have to do everything they can to make it the best experience possible, Muthiah said. "If a student has needs, Fox will provide."