In 1999, in Washington State, we were fortunate to be part of a federal
grant called a Quality Initiative.  Our state chose to focus on learning
disabilities.  With the ongoing support of the Office of Adult Literacy
(who had previously provided the opportunity for statewide learning
disabilities training for teachers and DSS counselors by Nancie Payne
and Neil Sturomski) and our administrators, we created a systematic
process (based on the California model) for identifying (flagging),
screening, interviewing, referring, diagnostic/prescriptive teaching,
and requesting GED accommodations if needed.

 

In our Adult Ed program we have two certified Learning Disability
Specialists. (We cover 6 counties.)  We both meet individually with
students who have been referred through counselors or teachers or are
self referred.  We screen, interview, teach study skills and learning
strategies, work with teachers, make referrals, tutor, teach mini
workshops, provide teacher trainings, and request GED accommodations.

 

I think a key issue is that Special Education students don't go away
just because they become adults.  Being able to read, write and do math
to 10th grade level is a great benefit to being successful in the adult
world.  Those with lower skills often do not have a high school diploma,
end up on some sort of state support-TANF or prison.  Many have mental
health problems which are complicated by poor decision-making and
problem solving processes.  Having a learning disabilities
specialist-which is VERY,VERY,VERY, different from most Disabilities
Support Service persons---is a contributor to the retention and success
of students. The first year we provided services to 12 students.  This
year we have provided services to 250 students so far.  We can say with
confidence that the services we provide allow students to be successful
who would never have made progress or reached their educational goals
before the system was in place.   

 

What made our systematic approach successful was the federal and state
funding to get training, the support of the administrators who
recognized the need for funded positions like Learning Disability
Specialists to work with students with learning challenges, and the
passion of instructors willing to do the work to take on a new role to
serve students.

 

For the past two years we have been fortunate to be part of the
Universal Design for Learning Federal grant through Renton Technical
College.  With the funding from this grant we have been able to do even
more for our program.  With the focus on improving access to education
to all students (UDL) we have purchased assistive technology, classroom
materials and books, and paid for teacher to access workshops and
conferences.  This has truly been another big step forward for us.

 

We need Washington State to address the funding needs to keep this
systematic process in place and to create a policy so all community
colleges in the state have a Learning Disability Specialist and a system
for serving students with learning disabilities

Judy A. Campbell 
Learning Disabilities Specialist 
IEL/ABE/CCS 

________________________________

From: learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
RKenyon721 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 3:52 PM
To: learningdisabilities at nifl.gov
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 1033] Fwd: Chair of Practitioner's Task
Forceon Adults with LD

 

Hi Glenn and Gerald,

 

I think that Gerald's question is an critically important one for the
field.  What do we do for the learners we see in our classes and
programs every day that exhibit characteristics of a possible learning
disability, that have co-morbid disorders, that have achievement
discrepancies, and that are failing to progress?  Not all programs use
an LD Screening process.  Not all programs have the staff or resources
to aggressively implement a plan or to develop a state policy.

 

I am very interested in hearing from subscribers that have already
addressed this problem.  This is an all encompassing issue that affects
everyone on this List, so please share your experiences with all of us.

 

Thanks, in advance to those of you that take the time to respond to
Gerald's question.

 

Rochelle

 

 

Rochelle Kenyon
Moderator, LINCS Learning Disabilities Discussion List
Center for Literacy Studies at the University of Tennessee
RKenyon721 at aol.com 
 
To post a message: 
Learningdisabilities at nifl.gov 
 
To subscribe: 
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/LearningDisabilities 
 
To read archived messages:
http://www.nifl.gov/linc/discussions/list_archives.html

 

Gerald ...

I am keynoting the Florida State literacy conference and will be in
Orlando from May 2-4th --- I will also be conducting sessions there on
LD and Spanish and LD and Gender issues ...

I wonder if you will be there ... Like to meet up and talk more about
what you are doing and what other states do as well ..

Look forward to more discussions 

We can continue off list serve (and not bother everyone else) if you
e-mail me directly ...

Glenn Young
530 Auburn Ave.
Buffalo, New York 14222
Ph. and Fax 716-882-2842
Cell 703-864-3755
e-mail gyoungxlt at adelphia.net

 

 

I am Chair of a Practitioner's Task Force for Adults with Learning
Disabilities here in Florida.  Our target population is Adult Education
students (Adult Basic Education, GED, ESOL, Family Literacy, Adult High
School) with learning disabilities. We are basically funded with Adult
Education funds (WIA).  I would like to hear how other States are
addressing the needs of undocumented Adult Education students.

 

Gerald Frisby

Frisbyg at dbcc.edu 

 

 

 





________________________________

See what's free at AOL.com
<http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/attachments/20070410/2d242c5b/attachment.html