Learning Disabilities Diagnosis Referral Process for GED Accommodations
Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard administrations of the regular print GED Tests. In such cases, accommodations to standard testing may be arranged for students with documented disabilities: physical, emotional/mental, ADHD or learning. There is an accommodation request procedure and certifying form, which must be processed before a request may be granted. This form is available from all Arkansas GED Examiners. For more information about GED accommodations, go to http://ace.arkansas.gov/adultEducation/programs/GED/Pages/default.aspx.
If a student requires new or updated documentation of a learning disability, the AALRC Disabilities and Online Learning Coordinator can assist local programs in making an appropriate referral for diagnosis. There are several options available, and each case will be considered on an individual basis based on specific student information:
If the student has existing documentation of a learning disability that has been completed within the last five (5) years, the local program can request a copy of the documentation from the school or clinic that completed the diagnosis. The request must be made in writing, preferably using a Release of Confidential Information form printed on the program's letterhead paper. A sample release form may be copied for program use from the LD Policy Manual at http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/policyManual/appendixC.pdf.
If the student has NO existing documentation of a learning disability, and if the student DOES NOT have a job, the local program should refer the student to the local Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) agency program to determine eligibility for services. The purpose of ARS is to help people with disabilities become employed and the LD diagnosis is part of their intake process. However, if the student has no desire to get a job, please do not refer them to ARS.
The Commissioner of ARS has authorized the referral of adult education and literacy students to ARS for diagnosis of learning disabilities. For students who are working towards getting their GED diploma, the diagnosis will include the WAIS-IV test, required by the national GED Testing Service in Washington DC to request accommodations for a learning disability.
Students who are referred to ARS MUST:
- be unemployed and seeking employment;
- indicate a possible learning disability as a result of a screening process at the local adult education or literacy center; and
complete the Woodcock-Johnson III achievement test before ARS conducts any testing.
When the student is referred to ARS, they must take the following to their initial meeting with the ARS counselor:
- any completed screening information that indicates the possibility of a learning disability; e.g., TABE or Practice Test scores both with and without accommodations applied;
- a confidential release of information form, signed by the student, that authorizes you to share the screening results with the ARS psychologist;
- a copy of the official GED Accommodation Request for Testing Accommodations, Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities (LCD), available here , along with the Woodcock-Johnson scores recorded and signed by the person who administered that test; and
- a letter (on your program's letterhead) requesting the diagnosis. Please indicate that the psychologist should complete Section 3 on the LCD form. Also, include your contact information in case the psychologist has any questions.
This authorization is the result of increased collaboration between adult education and literacy programs and ARS, and represents an enormous system change for Arkansas service providers.
If the student DOES HAVE a job, and DOES HAVE financial resources to pay for diagnosis, then the program may assist the student in choosing a clinic or private psychologist to conduct the LD evaluation. The average cost of an LD diagnosis is $500-$800. Many students who are employed will have insurance that covers all or most of this cost, but they may not be aware of that coverage prior to investigation. Local mental health councils will conduct LD diagnosis on a sliding scale, which may make it affordable for many students with limited financial resources. Â Universities with graduate programs in clinical psychology may also provide LD diagnosis on a sliding scale.
If the student DOES HAVE a job, but HAS NO financial resources to pay for diagnosis, the Arkansas Department of Career Education, Adult Education Division, has authorized a limited amount of funding for the AALRC to pay contracted clinics and psychologists to conduct the WAIS-IV tests. The AALRC has contracted with a number of psychological testing centers to provide WAIS-IV testing for students who are working towards a GED and need to request accommodations on the GED test for a specific learning disability. These contracts are only for students who have no existing, current diagnosis; no existing resources to pay for diagnosis; and whose goal is to get their GED diploma.
The contracts are designed to facilitate the process of learning disabilities diagnosis for students who are undiagnosed, but at some point in the screening process, demonstrate a high probability of the existence of a learning disability. Payment will be made by the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center (AALRC) directly to the diagnostician.
If the student has insurance or any other resources that would pay for the testing, that student is not eligible for testing under this contractual arrangement. Only students with no available resources will be eligible to have their testing paid by the AALRC. This agreement applies only to those students whose goal is to get a GED. Unemployed students should still be referred to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services whenever possible.
There are two types of tests required to request accommodations for learning disabilities for the GED: (1) a measurement of academic achievement, and (2) a measurement of potential or intelligence. The referral process for testing in Arkansas includes the Woodcock Johnson-III (WJ-III) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS-IV). Janice Hanlon, State GED Administrator, coordinates a group of GED Examiners and adult education instructors to administer the WJ-III for students who are working towards a GED and will be referred for a learning disabilities diagnosis. Please contact the certified professional nearest your center to arrange for him or her to conduct the WJ-III with your student BEFORE you refer the student for the WAIS-IV. There is no cost to your program or student for this testing, although your program will be required to pay for the examiner's travel.
Contact one of the following individuals to administer the Woodcock Johnson Achievement Test Part III, Section C on L-15. The school requesting the test must pay the travel expenses for the tester. Call Wendy Bryant, Disabilities Coordinator, at 1-800-569-3539 to arrange for Intelligence testing (Section Three) on the Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities request form.
(Updated 11/11)
Professionals Certified to Administer the WJ-III |
|||
Location |
Name |
Program |
Contact Info |
Bentonville |
NWACC Adult Education |
479.986.6911 |
|
Berryville |
Jean Singleton |
Carroll County Adult Education |
870.423.4455 |
Booneville |
Christy McCollough |
ATU, Ozark Campus, Booneville |
479.675.4326 |
Camden |
Terry Jackson or Barbara Hamilton |
SAU Tech Adult Education |
870.837.4001 |
Clarksville |
Shirley Freeman |
Johnson County Adult Education |
479.754.2620 |
Clinton |
Gayla Feist |
North Central Career Center |
870.745.6554 |
Conway |
Bruce McSpadden |
Conway Adult Education |
501.450.4810 |
Crossett |
Janie Carter |
UAM College of Technology at Crossett |
870.364.6414 |
Dermott |
Stephanie Jones |
Dermott Adult Education Center |
870.538.1052 |
Fayetteville |
Susan Socia |
Fayetteville Adult Education |
479.444.3041 |
Ft. Smith |
Gary Udouj or Marcia Dye |
Ft. Smith Adult Education |
479.785.1232 |
Harrison |
Judy Waters |
NAC Adult Education |
870.391.3198 |
Jonesboro |
Dana Rockwell |
Valley View Adult Education |
870.935.6205 |
Leslie |
Mary Kirk |
North Central Career Center |
870.447.6111 |
Little Rock |
Carolyn Prickett |
Little Rock Adult Education Center |
501.447.1850 |
Lonoke |
Dianne Faucett |
Lonoke/Prairie Counties Adult Education |
501.676.7054 |
Malvern |
Jan Robertson or Laurel Williams |
Ouachita Technical College Adult Education |
501.332.5002 |
Marked Tree |
Effie Dungan |
ASU Newport, Marked Tree |
870.358.2117 |
Melbourne |
Sandra Miller |
Ozarka College Adult Education |
870.368.2052 |
Mena |
Ronda Wells |
Rich Mountain Community College Adult Education |
479.394.7622 |
Mountain Home |
Margaret Dukat |
Ozarka College Adult Education, Baxter County |
870.425.7974 |
Nashville |
Dawn Humphrey |
UA Cossatot Community College, Nashville |
870.845.2454 , Ext. 294 or |
Newport |
Martha Taussig |
ASU Newport Adult Education |
870.512.7824 |
North Little Rock |
Kathy Middlebrooks |
Pulaski County Special School District Adult Education |
501.945.6055 |
Ozark |
Vicky Spurr |
ATU, Ozark Campus |
479.667.3520 |
Paragould |
Joan Eveland |
Arkansas Northeastern College, Greene County |
870.215.0433 |
Pine Bluff |
Gloria Whitman |
UAPB/Jefferson County Adult Education |
870.534.5823 |
Pocahontas |
Tammie Lemmons |
Black River Technical College Adult Education |
870.248.4130 |
Russellville |
Dorothy Harris |
Russellville Adult Education |
479.968.5244 |
Springdale |
Harold “Hal” Long or Ann Womack |
NTI Adult Education |
479.751.0181 |
Van Buren |
Darla Melton |
Crawford County Continuing Education Center |
479.471.0019 |
To re-cap, if you have a student who may have a learning disability and needs to be referred for diagnosis, and if that student's goal is to get a GED and has no existing resources to pay for the WAIS-IV, please complete the following steps:
- Submit the completed Request for AALRC Funding for WAIS-IV Evaluation form to the AALRC Disabilities and Online Learning Coordinator at wendy@aalrc.org. After it has been approved, the student must take the form to the psychological clinic on the date of their evaluation to provide documentation that the AALRC will pay for the testing.
- Discuss the referral process with the student. Be sure the student understands what a learning disability is and why they are being referred for diagnosis.
- Contact the nearest WJ-III certified examiner and arrange for a time for them to come and test your student. That person will complete the appropriate section of the LCD, the GEDTS official form for requesting accommodations on the GED. Note: Your center is responsible for paying the WJ-III examiner's travel to your program to do the testing.
- Set an appointment with one of the psychological centers under contract for your student to take the WAIS-IV. Be sure the center knows the referral is from your program.
- Be sure the student takes the LCD form with the WJ-III scores filled out when they go for their WAIS-IV test. This information will assist the psychologist in the diagnosis process.
- Your local GED examiner should be able to assist you in this whole process, and should be involved from the beginning. He or she will work with the student to complete the rest of the LCD form and submit the completed form to the state office.
Contracted Psychological Testing Centers |
||
Location |
Testing Center |
Contact Info |
Arkadelphia |
Arkansas Counseling and |
Charlie Weiner |
Benton |
Counseling Clinic |
Jim Gregory |
Bentonville |
NW AR Behavior Therapy Clinic |
Donna M. Van Kirk, Ed.D. |
Clarksville |
Julia Frost, Dody Pelts |
Julia Frost |
Conway |
Conway Psychological Assessment Center |
Dr. Kim Dielmann |
El Dorado |
South Arkansas Regional Health Center |
Regina Pierce |
Jonesboro |
Mid-South Health Systems |
Bonnie White |
Mena |
Kimberley A. Parks |
Kimberley A. Parks |
Newport |
Rita Lynn Jones |
Rita Lynn Jones |
Pine Bluff |
Cares Behavioral Services |
Dr. Patsy Clark-Pace |
Texarkana |
Southwest Arkansas Counseling & MHC |
Dr. Dwight Sperry |
West Memphis |
712 Calvin Avery Dr., Suite D |
Angelyn Sherrod, MS, LPE |
Counties Served by Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas and Mid-South Health Systems
|
Counties |
Contact Info |
Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas |
Crittenden County |
Roland Irwin, Ph.D. |
Mid-South Health Systems |
Clay County |
Frankie Hogue, Ph.D. |