[NIFL-LD:4664] Re: How best to approach student who seems to "blank out" for long periods

From: DeeDee (deedee@nnlc.org)
Date: Tue Mar 22 2005 - 19:22:38 EST


Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j2N0McC16317; Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:22:38 -0500 (EST)
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:22:38 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <002801c52f30$0f4457c0$6600a8c0@nnlc.org>
Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: "DeeDee" <deedee@nnlc.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-LD:4664] Re: How best to approach student who seems to "blank out" for long periods
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain;
Status: O
Content-Length: 6018
Lines: 168

Getting LD evaluations
Here in Nevada I have spoke to the local  state psychological association
and educated them on our need for evaluations on a discounted  rate or  for
pro bono  We got two organizations that will do  two  pro bono evaluations
for our adult students a year.  Reaching out to the community can be a
viable option to get support.

One thing that I found is that most psychologist do not know how to do an LD
evaluation.  Another issue.

Dee Dee Bossart,M.S.
Program Development Officer
775-356-1007
775-356-1009 Fax
deedee@nnlc.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michele Anne Craig" <shellcraig@ix.netcom.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:25 PM
Subject: [NIFL-LD:4661] Re: How best to approach student who seems to "blank
out" for long periods


> Marilyn,
>
> I am very familiar with the accomodations forms, but we do not have an LD
> specialist at our site. I feel that by default, I am considered the LD
> specialist or at least act as the screening process. . We do not have
money
> for testing for students who are not identified. So far the best I can do
> is to have them enroll at the local community college and be tested there
> (for free). There, they do have an LD specialist who discusses
> accomodations.
>
> When I asked the other teachers at our site how they had worked with him,
> they rolled their eyes, and said "That guy is wierd." To me, this doesn't
> get anyone anywhere. It makes the student into something "other" and kind
> of writes him off as not being capable of learning.
>
> So I guess I am asking is there a way to approach this delicate subject
> when you don't have a formal screening process? And what accomodations
have
> the rest of you used for a student who has attention lapses? If money for
> LD assessment isn't available, or the student doesn't have insurance for a
> neurological assessment (which I think might be more appropriate) how do
> you go about getting these things for your students?
>
> I have had no luck with the department of rehabilitiation, and the local
> university that has an MA in LD doesn't return my emails.
>
> Michele Craig
> Woodland Adult School
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Marilynn Abrahamson <marilynn@whidbey.net>
> > To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
> > Date: 3/21/2005 5:59:58 PM
> > Subject: [NIFL-LD:4653] Re: How best to approach student who seems to
> "blank out" for long periods
> >
> > Hi, Michele,
> > Do you have a "learning needs specialist" in your Ad. Ed. Dept., that
you
> > can have come in and do an oral interview with him to start the process
of
> > determining the exact nature of his learning needs?  We have LD
> specialists
> > on our staff who have been trained in identifying indicators of learning
> > disabilities.  They will work with the student to develop effective
> learning
> > strategies and with the instructors to apply appropriate teaching
> > strategies.  A learning needs specialist also can start the process so
the
> > student can apply for accommodations for taking the GED tests.  We have
> > learned that as GED instructors, even with a minimal amount of LD
> training,
> > that we still need experts who have been formally trained in LDs to come
> in
> > and assist us with students with the learning difficulties you
described.
> > In addition, I would recommend that you contact your GED testing center
to
> > familiarize yourself with the L-15 application for accommodations on the
> GED
> > test.
> > Marilynn
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Michele Anne Craig" <shellcraig@ix.netcom.com>
> > To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
> > Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 5:15 PM
> > Subject: [NIFL-LD:4652] How best to approach student who seems to "blank
> > out" for long periods
> >
> >
> > > Dear List,
> > >
> > > Last night I had a student join my class who has passed through the
> hands
> > > of many other teachers at our site. He took three nights to take the
> > CASAs,
> > > but his scores were pretty good (in the 240's for reading and 230's
for
> > > math). He has tried to take the GED and failed. As I spoke with him
and
> > > watched him work, it almost seemed as if he was having petit mal
> seizures.
> > > I would ask him a question and his eyes would glaze over and he
wouldn't
> > > respond for several minutes. When he did respond, it was obvious he
was
> > > just taking up where he left off, but didn't seem cognizant of the
fact
> > > that time had elapsed. When he read, it took him about 10 minutes to
> read
> > a
> > > very easy paragraph, but when he finished it, he had good recollection
> of
> > > what he had read, he was just painfully slow. He showed me his HS
> > > transcript (from Mexico) and he had received very good high school
> grades
> > > in courses like philosophy and physics.So while second language
> > acquisition
> > > is an issue, something else is going on.  I was beginning to wonder if
> he
> > > had an accident or something that affected his brain, but I don't
really
> > > know how to bring this up. His behavior is also similar to some of the
> > > students I have worked with who have schizophrenia.
> > >
> > > I am thinking about telling him that I noticed that sometimes he takes
a
> > > long time to answer a question or to read a passage and has that
always
> > > been the case? But....I don't want to turn him off or embarrass him.
On
> > the
> > > other hand, he has been bumped from school to school and teacher to
> > > teacher. He told me he really wants to work on his reading skills.
> > >
> > > Has anyone worked with students like this or do you have any
> suggestions?
> > I
> > > really want to help him pass his GED, but I am at a loss. If it is
going
> > to
> > > take him so long to process information, I feel like it would be
useful
> > for
> > > me to know why so I can help.
> > >
> > > Michele
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
>



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon Oct 31 2005 - 09:49:47 EST