Why Are Districts Hesitant Towards HiringTeachers with Disabilities?

As educators, we learn quite a bit about the diversity of the students with whom we work. Additionally we address the issues of teaching students with disabilities. There is quite a bit of literature on the subject, and many strategies have been tried and tested in a vast many areas in order to incorporate teaching techniques that accommodate all learning modalities across the board. As educators we place tremendous emphasis on teaching to all of our students regardless of their individual needs; and so I find it baffling that when it becomes the teacher who has special needs in order to function in her role as a highly qualified teacher, schools do not jump at the opportunity to meet these needs in order to keep this teacher employed.

First of all, there is very little documentation available in the area of teachers with disabilities. It seems to be a rather taboo topic and it appears as though the teaching profession functions within a system that does not always practice what it preaches. In other words, this system believes in preparing all students, including those with disabilities, for work after schooling. Yet this same system is reluctant to accept any responsibility for providing accommodations for its teachers who harbor one or more disability and require modifications in their working environment. Sounds a bit odd, does it not? Education is a system that prides itself on preparing students with disabilities for future employment, yet it is reluctant to accommodate the needs of those who choose teaching as their choice of employment.