Arkansas has not had a similar civil rights case, probably because our Department of Human Services (DHS) was well aware of Ruth Bourquin's lawsuit and its nationwide repercussions.  DHS partnered with our interagency LD training initiative, Bridges to Practice, in 1998, and proceeded to participate in the training for five years to educate their staff about appropriate and effective service provision for their clients with learning disabilities. 

DHS began mandatory LD screening of all Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) clients in July 1999 using the Washington State 13-Question Screener.  In addition, they contracted with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) to provide follow-up diagnosis. If the client needed a GED, ARS included all tests required by GEDTS as part of the evaluation in order to request and receive accommodations on the GED tests.

I should add that the interagency training is no longer happening, and I have no idea how the issue of learning diabilities is now being handled in local DHS offices in this state.  The agency underwent some drastic administrative changes a few years ago, and the last I heard, they were using the disabilities kiosk approach for their clients with disabilities, including learning disabilities.  That's basically a section in the office with a computer where the person can search for local resources.  

As with all training, though, there were a lot of people who completed the training and continue to apply what they learned to their clients.  I still hear from some of them, and I know it has made a difference in some local offices despite any support or lack thereof from the state.

Patti White

Patti White, M.Ed.
Disabilities Project Manager
Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center
804 Madison 3120
Huntsville, AR  72740
prwhite at madisoncounty.net
http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/index.aspx
800.569.3539    ph/fax/tty
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