Los Angeles Southwest College Disabled Students Programs & Services “How to Accommodate Students with Learning Disabilities” Darlene Wooten, Coordinator, DSP&S Stephanie Schleicher, Learning Disability Specialist Types of Disabilities • • • • • • • • • • Visual Impairments Deafness and Hearing Loss Learning Attention Deficit Disorder Psychological Head Injury Communication Disorders Autism Mobility/Dexterity Chronic Health Impairments Role of DSPS • Faculty support as well as student support • To preserve the integrity of the curriculum, while keeping the faculty and institution in compliance Verification of Disabilities • The specific disability must be verified, and there must be an educational limitation that precludes the student from fully participating in general education without additional specialized services. • Students need to disclose and provide documentation from a licensed professional stating the nature of their disability and the functional limitations imposed by their disability What is a Learning Disability? A Leaning Disability is defined as a persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction which may exist with other disabling conditions. This dysfunction continues despite instruction in standard classroom situations. Learning Disability Definition (cont.) • To be categorized as a learning disabled a student must exhibit: – Average to above intellectual ability; – Severe processing deficit(s); – Severe aptitude-achievement discrepancy(ies); and – Measured achievement in an instructional or employment setting Characteristics of Learning Disabilities • • • • • Short attention span Easily distracted Disorganized; loses things Poor reading and/writing ability Reverse letters or numbers; trouble w/sequencing • Inability to concentrate • Poor memory Assessing Students for LD’s • Achievement must indicate student has the potential to benefit from instruction at the community college • Aptitude or ability component assesses the student’s intellectual capacity to achieve in the community college setting(>85) • Processing Deficit – student’s with LD’s lack the ability to acquire, manipulate, integrate, store, and /or retrieve information in the same manner in which most student’s perform these tasks California CC LD Eligibility Model Six assessment components: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Intake Screening Measured Achievement Ability Level Processing Deficit Aptitude-Achievement Discrepancy Eligibility Recommendation Accommodations • Appropriate accommodations established on a case-by-case basis • Test accommodations: extended time, distraction free environment, scribes, readers • Note takers, interpreters, closed caption videos • Franklin Speller/Thesaurus, tape recorders • Specialized adaptive technology (JAWS, Zoom Text, Inspiration) • Courses (LS) designed specifically for students with disabilities Legal Considerations • ADA protects qualified individuals – Elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities • Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 – Students receive approved modifications, appropriate academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids that enable participation and benefit from college’s educational programs & activities Legal Considerations (cont.) • California State Ed Code, Title V Reg – Services or instruction must: • Not duplicate those available to all students • Be directly related to the educational limitations of the verified disabilities of the student • Be directly related to the student’s participation in the educational program • Support participation in educational activities consistent with the mission of the college OCR Cases Accommodations • University of South Florida • State University of New YorkDelhi Faculty Responsibilities • Recognize need for universal access • Provide accommodations established by the DSP&S letters students provide • Make referrals when observing students you believe may benefit from assessment • Maintain flexibility to accommodate students with disabilities • Understand the difference between accommodations and modifications Faculty Resources • Darlene Wooten, Coordinator /CounselorX5481 SS102 [email protected] • DSPS Website: http://www.lasc.edu/dsps/ • Disability Awareness: http://www.lasc.edu/dsps/awareness.html