DISABILITY SERVICES INTAKE

Ideally, college academic advising services will screen all students for signs of math learning disability by answering these questions: 

TOOL 1: DYSCALCULIA HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION RUBRIC - highlight indicates evidence of DYSCALCULIA.

• 1. Upon review of historical standardized test data from the CA-60 and the high school transcript, is  there a marked gap between math performance and other areas, clearly indicating deficiencies in math functioning relative to other areas of academic functioning? 

  2. Upon review of the high school transcript, did the student  take pre-algebra (remedial) in high school? Did the student receive a C or below grade? How many attempts at pre-algebra? How many attempts  at  Algebra 1? Grades earned? Did  the student take Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B in high school? Grades? Did the student attempt Algebra 2? Number of times? Grades?  Geometry? Grade? What is the highest level of math taken?

  3. Comparing all grades for  all classes, is there an obvious difference between math grades earned and grades for other courses? (EX: A,B,C,A,B, AB vs. D, E, F,C-)

  4. On the college placement examinations, is there a marked deficiency in math performance relative to performance in other areas? Did student place into remedial math? 

  5. On the ACT, SAT, PSAT, Explore, and state achievement tests taken in high school, is  there a CONSISTENT and historical record of a large gap showing low math performance relative to performance/achievement in other academic areas?

TOOL 2: ONLINE BELL CURVE CHARTING TOOL to plot standardized test scores and percentile ranks with highlighted deficient and above average scores.

• 1. Does the CA-60 or high school record show evidence of receipt of special education services? Does student remember receiving special education, an IEP or 504 plan,  accommodations, adjustments, special help or use of special tools?

  2. IF EVIDENCE of MATH LEARNING DISABILITY exists, does student have a valid diagnosis that is less than 1 year old?

  3. If current diagnostic report is needed, direct the student to the college's ed psych or ed neuropsych department for assessment for learning disabilities OR

  4. direct student to staff ed psychologist for evaluation AND

  5. apply a provisional plan of appropriate accommodations, academic placements and supports (to include weekly contact with an advisor) and assistive technology, while waiting for full assessment and recommendations.

TOOL 3: CHECKLIST of STANDARD ACCOMMODATIONS &   TOOLS for DYSCALCULIA

TOOL 4:  WALL CHART of LEARNING DISABILITIES

• • LD name & synonyms

  • DSM-V codes

  • Symptoms

  • Causes

  • Prognosis

  • Assistive Technology

  • Accommodations

  • Remediation

  • Diagnosticians

  • Diagnostic tools

  • History.