Trigger Warnings Analysis

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Trigger warnings allow for all students, especially those who are suffering psychological disorders, to practice self-care and to receive a warning before interacting with potential painful course material. Having a warning before providing the material allows for students to plan ahead for how they will be able to care for themselves. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) strives to support individuals with psychological disorders and permits qualified students to receive trigger warnings. Part of the mission of the ADA is, “to ensure professional, educational, and other opportunities to the greatest extent possible for those who live under the burden of a physical or mental illness” (Leiter, 2016, para. 6). Trigger warnings assist in the aim behind the ADA. Trigger warnings can also serve as a way to help students succeed academically while taking courses that further their academic and …show more content…
Reinenke writes, "I don't want a student to be startled and at a loss and maybe drop the class because of their feelings" (as cited in Pettit, 2016, para. 7). Providing warnings to students that content may include difficult material can allow for a way students and faculty to partner together. The use of trigger warnings can also remind students to be considerate when discussing the material. The impact of the course topics being discussed may not be the same for each student. Some students will feel comfortable discussing them at length, providing critiques and criticisms, and sharing authentic thoughts. While the purpose of trigger warnings should not be to stop that, they can serve as a reminder that some people may find that the content will evoke a range of emotions and to be cognizant of how the identities they possess may experience the material differently from those with other

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