Services for Students with Disabilities

1
Services for Students with Disabilities

• Tutor Training
• Career Centre
• Beryl Buckley Golder Learning Strategist
• Donna Woodstock Assistive Technologist
• Joe Henry Services Advisor

2
Agenda

• Video Myths and Realities
• Philosophy of Services
• Overview of Services
• Tips and Strategies
• Assistive Technology
• Questions

3
Philosophy of Service

• All qualified students should have the
  opportunity to be successful in their chosen
  college program
• We work in cooperation with students to ensure
  fair, equitable and appropriate accommodations
  are developed and implemented.

4
Services

• Student Development and Wellness-Disability
  Services
• Transitions sessions
• Development of Individual student profiles and
  accommodations
• On-going counselling
• Testing Services
• Outreach with schools, governmental, and
  community organizations
• Specialized supports for students with specific
  learning

5
Access to Service

• Students must provide documentation attesting to
  the nature of the disability
• Medical Information
• Psycho-educational Assessments
• Individual Education Plans
• Other Information

6
Disabilities in College

• Vision Impairment
• Hearing Impairment
• Physical and Mobility Impairments
• Documented Learning Disabilities
• Acquired Brain Injuries
• Multiple Impairment
• Medical and Emotional Disabilities

7
By the Numbers

• 13,349 college students received accommodation
  for a disability in Ontario (2001-2002)
• 8,188 university students received accommodation
  for a disability in Ontario (2001-2002)

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Specific Disabilities
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Accommodations

• Testing
• Alternative Formats
• Note-taking
• Specialized Academic Assistance
• Reduced Program Load
• Specialized Counselling

10
Tips and Strategies

• If a student with a disability approaches you,
  arrange to meet with them privately to discuss
  their needs
• We will be encouraging students to self
  advocate.Give them an opportunity to explain
  their needs because needs/disabilities vary a
  great deal even among those with the same
  disability.

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Tips and Strategies

• Not all students with disabilities will need
  educational accommodations
• If students are having difficulty, ask to speak
  to them in private about their progress.
• If you are not sure how to effectively work with
  the student speak to Student Development and
  Wellness Rep.

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Definition of Learning Disabilities

• Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
  (LDAO)
• Key components
• Average or above average intellectual ability
• May affect acquisition, retention, understanding,
  or organization of verbal or non-verbal
  information
• Results from psychological processing deficits
• Due to genetic and/or neurobiological factors

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General Tutoring Tips for Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Dont make assumptions
• Help the student find point zero
• Use a multi-sensory approach
• Use a step-by-step approach
• Allow time
• Observe

14
Assistive Technology as a Tool

• What is AT
• Focus on strengths of the student
• What are the types of technology out there?
• Free shareware to aid in reading

15
QUESTIONS