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.Intake Screening 2.Measured Achievement 3.Ability Level 4.Processing Deficit 5.Aptitude-Achievement Discrepancy 6.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 York- Delhi

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 /Counselor- X5481 SS102 DSPS Website: Disability Awareness: