Tutoring Students with Cognitive Disabilities


Tutoring adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities can be difficult. To me, it is especially hard to figure out if the person is trying to take advantage of you or if they genuinely need more help than the average student. In my experience, people with cognitive and developmental disabilities do not want to take advantage of you, they might even feel embarrassed about asking you many questions. Generally people who continue to ask you questions after a half hour to an hour session with them are the people who are taking advantage of you. It is important to try and stay patient with them but make it clear that you cannot right the paper for them.
Now that does not mean that all people with disabilities are perfect angels, they still might try and get you to right the paper for them. The people who try to use thier disabilities as an excuse are the ones that can be the most difficult to tutor. I have actually had a student tell me, “I have a learning disability so can you write this for me”? Even if they get angry you have to try and get them to feel empowered enough to work by themselves. Of course if you feel like you are coming to the end of your rope you can always go and get a coworker or one of the managers.
By Victoria Ford, FCC Student, WRC Tutor

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