Practitioners Task Force on Adults with Learning Disabilities

1
Practitioners Task Force on Adults with Learning
Disabilities

• Creating a Statewide Delivery System for Adults
  with Learning Disabilities One TAP at a Time

2
Gerald Frisby, Co-Chair

• Introduction of panel members
• Development of "Creating a Statewide Delivery
  System for Adults with Learning Disabilities in
  Florida
• Purpose of Technical Assistance Papers    

3
Monica Hayes, PTF Member

• Technical Assistance Paper
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Adults with
  Learning Disabilities and Service Providers

4
Rights and Responsibilities

• Individuals with disabilities are entitled to
• Protections and services afforded by federal and
  state laws and regulations
• Laws are implemented by
• Policies and procedures are monitored by federal
  and local governances and upheld by the courts

5
Rights and Responsibilities

• Included in the TA Paper
• Specific rights of Adults with Learning
  Disabilities
• Specific responsibilities of Adults with Learning
  Disabilities
• Rights of the Providers
• Responsibilities of Providers
• Resources

6
Rights and Responsibilities

• For more information on the Rights and
  Responsibilities of Adults with LD Service
  Providers
• and to receive a copy of the TAP,
• please come to our concurrent session on
• Thursday, May 31st
• 130 - 245 p.m.
• SEE YOU THERE!

7
Meryl Eisenberg, PTF Member

• Technical Assistance Paper
• Screening for Students with Learning
  Disabilities in Adult Education Programs

8
Screening for Learning Disabilities in Adult
Education Programs

• Included in the Technical Assistance Paper
• Description of Recent National and State
  Initiatives that have Focused on Serving Adults
  with LD
• The Role of Screening
• Selecting Screening Tools
• Recommended Screening Instruments
• Informed Consent Confidentiality
• Screening vs Diagnostic Testing
• When Screening is Appropriate
• When to Refer for Additional Testing Which May
  Lead to a Diagnosis of LD

9
Screening Process

• The process of collecting information through a
  variety of sources over time that would lead to
  the conclusion that an individual might be
  significantly at-risk for a specific condition
  such as a learning disability.
• Although screening alone does not identify
  whether a person has a learning disability, it
  is a first step in determining whether further
  testing should be considered.

10
Need for Screening

• Based on clear evidence that a large percentage
  of adults with LD in adult education programs
  are under-identified and under-served, the
  process of screening for LD was identified as a
  clear element needing attention.
• It has been estimated that 50-80 of students in
  ABE and literacy programs with low literacy
  skills may have a suspected or diagnosed learning
  disability. (Floridas Bridges to Practice)

11
Role of Screening

• If a learner is consistently struggling with
  learning the basics of reading, writing, math,
  communication, social, and work skills, reports
  negative past learning experiences, and/or a
  history of learning difficulties, then local
  programs are encouraged to administer an
  appropriate screening tool.
• It will then be up to the learner to pursue
  further screening or diagnostic testing.

12
Recommended Screening Tools

• Washington State Learning Needs Screening, aka,
  Washington 13
• Adult Learning Disabilities Screening (ALDS)
• Empire State Screening (Spanish speakers)
• Powerpath to Adult Basic Learning
• Diagnostic Screening
• Attention Difficulties Screening
• Scotopic Sensitivity Screening

13
Screening

• For more information on Screening for Students
  with LD in Adult Education,
• and to receive a copy of the TAP,
• please come to our concurrent session on
• Thursday, May 31st
• 1045 -1145 a.m.
• SEE YOU THERE!

14
Patrick Mulvihill, PTF Member

• Technical Assistance Paper
• Accommodations for Students with Learning
  Disabilities in Adult Education Programs

15
Accommodations

• Included in the Technical Assistance Paper
• Responsibilities of Students
• Responsibilities of Educational Providers
• Developing Implementing Section 504 Plan
• Instructional Accommodations
• Testing Accommodations
• Basic Skill Exemption Information

16
Accommodations

• Accommodations are adjustments that are made, in
  either instruction or assessments, that are
  appropriate or necessary to enable adults with
  learning disabilities to fully participate in
  school.

17
Accommodations

• any change to a classroom environment or task
  that permits an individual with a disability to
• participate in the classroom process
• perform the essential tasks of the class
• enjoy benefits and privileges of classroom
  participation equal to those enjoyed by adult
  learners without disabilities.

18
Accommodations

• Level the playing field, similar to a
  handicap awarded in bowling or golf
• Are in no way intended to modify a program or
  give the student with LD any advantage
• Involve a wide range of techniques and support
  systems that help individuals with disabilities
  work around limitations that result from their
  disability and
• Are a key component to a students success

19
Accommodations

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 190 (ADA)
• Florida Educational Equity Act
• Section 508 (added to the Rehabilitation Act of
  1973 and amended in 1998)

20
Accommodations

• For more information on the Accommodations
  Process
• and to receive a copy of the TAP,
• please come to our concurrent session on
• Thursday, May 31st
• 130 - 245 p.m.
• SEE YOU THERE!

21
Thank you ?

• Gerry Frisby
• frisbyg_at_dbcc.edu
• Monica Hayes
• Monica.Hayes_at_fldoe.org
• Meryl Eisenberg
• meryl.eisenberg_at_browardschools.com
• Patrick Mulvihill
• Patmfl_at_aol.com