First, did Willie approach you early enough in the semester so that there is still time for him to earn a passing grade?  Or does he already have so many low scores that you have no choice but to assign him a failing grade?

Students with disabilities need to be held to the same academic standards as everyone else.  But the ULD-savvy instructor recognizes that there is diversity in cognitive abilities amongst students, and there is more than one valid method of showing mastering of course content.

Being the consummate professional, you may recognize early on that Willie’s test scores don’t seem to accurately reflect his knowledge.  You meet with him and his counselor or Learning Disability Specialist and discuss his cognitive strengths.  Together you decide on methods of learning, instruction, and evaluation that will best ensure his grades reflect Willie’s achievement rather than his disability.