I read an article the other day about a college student with Ds winning a ruling to allow him to live in a dorm at the school he currently attends.  The article was interesting to me because I don’t know a lot about the college options available for intellectually differenced individuals.  Apparently, this student has been attending the college since 2003 and rides two different buses (public transportation) for two hours from his parents’ home in order to get to classes.  The college was denying him housing because he wasn’t enrolled in a traditional degree program.  I understand this.  I really do.  I also understand the argument I read a few people making that there needs to be academic standards for educational institutions.  I would argue that the university is a business.  I doubt they are letting in academically challenged students out of the kindness of their hearts.  College enrollment is down everywhere.  I am sure it is profitable for them to have paying students, regardless of whether those students are enrolled in a brain surgery program or not.  So I guess I don’t understand the reasoning behind refusing him housing.  I don’t know all the facts of this story, but I didn’t see the parents asking for any special accommodations for their son (live-in aides or whatever).  So, assuming he can live independently like any other student, why would the university not accept his check?

And arguing from my heart, why not show a little kindness and let this kid have full access to the college experience?  Where do you draw the line for exclusion?  For instance, should we stop making college athletic facilities accessible to those with physical disabilities?  I mean, those kids are never going to play at the same level as athletes without physical limitations, so why bother, right?

It’s always disheartening to me that so many people feel that they have the right to decide the experience that others should have access to, rather than the responsibility to help their fellow human beings in this shared experience on the planet.  People seem to forget that at some point in life everyone will need a hand up and the rest of the time you should put your hand out to help.