Diagnosis: Law

Published 1998, Dyscalculia.org

CONTENTS

WHO CAN MAKE AN LD DIAGNOSIS? | FROM TESTING TO DIAGNOSIS  |  EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE POLICY  |  COLLEGES & LD DIAGNOSIS  |  REFERENCES  |  Advocacy

WHO CAN MAKE A QUALIFIED DIAGNOSIS?

Federal disability laws require universities to accommodate students whose learning disabilities make it difficult for them to complete normal degree requirements. In a case brought by 10 Boston University students, U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris, agreed that university graduation requirements for certain math and language courses placed an unfair burden on students with learning disabilities. Saris said that such requirements to produce a recent diagnosis of learning disability from a physician or psychologist in order qualify for special accommodations from the university, such as tutoring and extra time to complete tests and assignments, were "high hurdles" that placed emotional and financial burdens on disabled students. She ordered the university to accept diagnoses of learning disability from any professional with a master's degree in education (Chavez 1997). 

LD ONLINE (2002): Who can diagnose SLD? by Kathleen Ross Kidder

HOW DOES TESTING RESULT IN DIAGNOSIS OF LEARNING DISORDERS?

WHAT ARE COLLEGES OBLIGATED TO DO WITH AN LD DIAGNOSIS? 

Three federal laws provide for accommodations for learning disabilities: the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the 1990/1997 Americans with Disabilities Act. More than 21,000 students each year get extra time to complete the SATs, and other entrance exams, because of diagnosed learning disabilities. Some enlist exam assistants to help fill out the answer sheets- if proven problems in recording exist. Special consideration should be given for learning disabled students despite poor test scores. Other university accommodations include: paid tutors and note takers, extra time to complete assignments and tests, and waivers for course requirements that are unreasonable due to the documented disability (Chavez, 1997).

REFERENCES

ACCESS ERIC. 1995. What Should Parents Know About Performance Assessment? Parent Brochure. ACCESS ERIC. [online document] Available at: http://www.aspensys.com/eric.

Bagin, Carolyn B., and Lawrence M. Rudner. 1998. What Should Parents Know About Standardized Testing? Parent Brochure. ACCESS ERIC. [online document] Available at: http://www.aspensys.com/eric.

Center For Teaching/ Learning of Mathematics (CTLM). 1986. III. The progress of Dr. Ladislav Kosc's Work on Dyscalculia. Focus on Learning Problems in Mathematics Volume 8: 3&4. (summer & fall edition).

Chavez, Linda. 1997. Look Out Harvard, Here I Come! E.W. Scripps Newspaper. Scripps Howard Broadcasting. [on-line article] Available at:http://texnews.com/opinion97/chavez082097.html.

Elliott, Steven N. 1995. Creating Meaningful Performance Assessments. Reston, VA: The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. ERIC EC, Digest #E531. [online document] Available at: http://www.cec.sped.org/digests/e531.htm.

GUCKENBERGER v. BOSTON UNIVERSITY, 1997. Available at: https://www.leagle.com/decision/19971080974fsupp10611066

Karnes, Frances A. and Ronald Marquardt. 1997. Know Your Legal Rights in Gifted Education. Reston, VA: The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. ERIC EC, Digest #E541. [online document] Available at: http://www.cec.sped.org/digests/e541.htm.

Knoblauch, Bernadette and Barbara Sorenson. 1998. IDEA's Definition of Disabilities. Reston, VA: The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. ERIC EC, Digest #E560. [online document] Available at: http://www.cec.sped.org/digests/e560.htm.

NCES. 1997. Snyder, Thomas D., with production manager, Charlene M. Hoffman. Program Analyst, Claire M. Geddes. Digest of Education Statistics 1997, NCES 98-015. U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC. [online document] Available at: http://nces.gov/pubs/digest97/98015.html.

Sharma, Mahesh 1989. How Children Learn Mathematics: Professor Mahesh Sharma, an interview with Bill Domoney. London, England: Oxford Polytechnic, School of Education. 90 min. Educational Methods Unit. Videocassette.

Sharma, Mahesh. 1990. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Some Remedial Perspectives for Mathematics Learning Problems. Math Notebook: From Theory into Practice. no. 7, 8, 9 & 10. (September, October, November, & December).

Strang, Ruth. 1960. Helping Your Gifted Child. New York: E.P. Dutton & Company Incorporated.