Pasadena Unified School (PUSD) District board member Tyron Hampton has requested the district to provide an assistant to help with him with his taking notes and drafting emails. The assistant, who is chosen by Hampton, would cost the district about $17,000.

PUSD is scheduled to vote on the request today. The item is put on the board’s consent calendar, meaning that it could be voted on without a debate. If approved, the consultant would be hired after passing a background check, according to the Pasadena Star News.

How common is it for someone suffering from a learning disability to request an aid paid for by his or her employer? Should Hampton foot the bill himself? Should he be able to handpick his assistant, or should that job be posted like any others?

Guests:

Susan Barton, an expert on dyslexia, reading instruction, and adult literacy issues based in San Jose. She is the founder of Barton Reading & Spelling System, a tutoring system for people struggling with dyslexia or a learning disability

Michael Waterstone, J. Howard Ziemann Fellow and Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, visiting professor at Northwestern Law School for the 2014-2015 school year

Tyron Hampton, board member, Pasadena Unified School District