CDSP Content

DYSCALCULIA COMPETENCIES FOR COLLEGE DISABILITY SERVICES PERSONNEL  (DCSP)

PROBLEM

         THROUGHLINES:   

            Do you have a role in meting out social justice in your college? 

            (A) What ideas do these images evoke?

Newsweek cover of Presidential Election 2000
Man inspects punched ballot for hanging chads
Graphic showing percentage of votes not counted in Florida precincts.
Ballot illustrating how to analyze punches on ballots.
Cartoon of confusing Florida ballot
Hanging chads, punches that did not entirely disconnect from the ballot and will not be counted.

           

      (B) These same feelings of injustice are experienced by math LD students 

            when told they cannot graduate because they have not passed college algebra

            in spite of many earnest tries!

            TYPICAL MATH LD SCENARIO

             INJUSTICES

image of horse with horseshoe on hoof from SuperStock.com
Image of aa battle lost to a horseshoe: source: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTQhIRG_i7glv0I_LRcFK3wZOOwS65PPXQsNOoQDZvGsrWR54Jd

CONCLUSION  

    "FOR WANT OF A NAIL..."

          In 1758 Ben Franklin gave us a bit of old wisdom in his Poor Richard' s Almanac:

               "For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; 

                For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;

                For want of a horse, the rider was lost; 

                For want of a rider, the battle was lost; 

                For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost;

                ....all for want of a horseshoe nail."

         This neglect of small things to great detriment, applies to the dyscalculic student.

               For want of a diagnosis, the solution was lost;

               For want of a solution, the instruction was lost;

               For want of instruction, the knowledge was lost; 

               For want of knowledge, opportunity was lost;

               For want of opportunity, success was lost; 

               For want of success; independence was lost. 

President Obama gives graduation address.