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://dwe.arkansas.gov/ged.htm.

If a student requires new or updated documentation of a learning disability, the AALRC Disabilities Project Manager 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.

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-III 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 (ACC-4), 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 ACC-4 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.

If the student DOES HAVE a job, but HAS NO financial resources to pay for diagnosis, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, Adult Education Section, has authorized a limited amount of funding for the AALRC to pay contracted clinics and psychologists to conduct the WAIS-III tests. The AALRC has contracted with a number of psychological testing centers to provide WAIS-III 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 III (WAIS-III). 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-III. 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 Patti White, Disabilities Coordinator, at 1-800-569-3539 to arrange for psychological testing Part III, Section B on L-15.
http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/referralProcess.aspx  (Updated 8/04)

Professionals Certified to Administer the WJ-III

Name	Program	Location	Phone
Patricia Bates Lead Trainer	South Arkansas Community College PO Box 7010 3696 East Main Street El Dorado, AR 71731-7010	El Dorado	870.864.7182
Charles Carter	Pulaski County Adult Education 4300 Haywood Street North Little Rock, AR 72117	North Little Rock	501.945.6055
Janie Carter	Forest Echoes Technical Institute 1326 Hwy. 52 West Crossett, AR 71635	Crossett	870.364.6414
Pat Collins Suzanne Ames	Russellville Adult Education Center PO Box 928 1000 S. Arkansas Russellville, AR 72811	Russellville	479.968.5244
Effie Dungan	ASU Technical Center PO Box 280 33500 Hwy. 63 East Marked Tree, AR 72365	Marked Tree	870.358.2117
Joan Eveland	Arkansas Northeastern College-Greene County 4601 Linwood Drive Paragould, AR  72450	Paragould	870.239.3200
Dianne Faucett	Lonoke/Prairie Counties Adult Ed. 720 East Front Lonoke, AR 72086	Lonoke	501.676.7054
Jan Hennessee Gayla Feist (instructor) Mary Kirk (instructor)	North Central Career Center PO Box 187 330 Oak Street Leslie, AR 72645	Leslie	870.447.6111
Carolyn Franklin	Conway Adult Education 615 East Robins Conway, AR 72032	Conway	501.450.4810 501.450.4859
Shirley Freeman	Johnson Co. Adult Education 400 Cherry Street Clarksville, AR 72830	Clarksville	479.754.2620
Anne Lynn Henry	Jonesboro Adult Education Center 2311 E. Nettleton, Suite1 Jonesboro, AR 72401	Jonesboro	870.933.5896
Donna Meigs	Fort Smith Adult Ed. 501 South 20th Street Ft. Smith, AR 72901	Fort Smith	479.785.1232
Leigh Ann Quillin	Univ. of AR Community College at Hope PO Box 140 Hope, AR 71802	Hope	870.722.8228
Jan Robertson	Ouachita Technical College Adult Education 1735 East Sullenberger Malvern, AR 72104	Malvern	501.332.5002
Liz Rust	Midsouth Community College 2000 West Broadway West Memphis, AR 72301	West Memphis	870.733.6760
Diane Shores	Phillips Community College of UA PO Box 785 1000 Campus Drive Helena, AR 72342	Helena	870.338.6474 Ext. 1304
Jean Singleton	Carroll County Adult Ed 310 Main Street Berryville, AR	Berryville	870.423.4455
Lynn Stanberry Georgiann Darter	NWACC Ad. Ed. Center #1 College Drive Bentonville, AR 72712	Bentonville	479.986.6911
Mary Taylor	Jefferson Co. Adult Ed. 912 West 6th Street PO Box 8269 Pine Bluff, AR 71611	Pine Bluff	870.534.5823
Judy Waters	North Arkansas College 1515 Pioneer Drive Harrison, AR 72601	Harrison	870.391.3196
Karen Weeks	Grant County Literacy Council PO Box 432 Sheridan, AR 72150	Sheridan	870.942.5711

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-III, please complete the following steps:

1. Submit the completed Request for AALRC Funding for WAIS-III Evaluation form to the AALRC Disabilities Project Manager at prwhite@madisoncounty.net.  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.
2. 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.
3. 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 ACC-4, 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.
4. Set an appointment with one of the psychological centers under contract for your student to take the WAIS-III. Be sure the center knows the referral is from your program.
5. Be sure the student takes the ACC-4 with the WJ-III scores filled out when they go for their WAIS-III test. This information will assist the psychologist in the diagnosis process.
6. 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 ACC-4 and submit the completed form to the state office.

Psychological Testing Centers that have Contracted with the AALRC to do the WAIS-III Testing

City	Test Center	Contact Info
Arkadelphia	Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR	Contact: Charlie Weiner Phone: E-mail (work): WEINERC@hsu.edu E-mail (home): chuckw19@excite.com
Batesville	Health Resources of Arkansas 25 Gap Road PO Box 2578 Batesville, AR 72503	Contact: Dr. Tammy Alexander Phone: 501.745.4584 Fax: 501.742.3031 E-mail: talexander@hra-health.org
Benton	Counseling Clinic 307 E. Sevier Benton, AR 72015	Contact: Jim Gregory Phone: 501.315.4224 Fax: 501.776.0411 Email: jgregory@cc-inc.org
Bentonville	NW AR Behavior Therapy Clinic 2717 SE "I" Street, Suite 1 Bentonville, AR  72712	Contact: Donna M. Van Kirk, Ed.D. Phone: 479.271.6103 Fax: 479.271.6109 E-mail: d_van_kirk@yahoo.com Website:www.betherap.com
El Dorado	South Arkansas Regional Health Center 715 North College Ave. El Dorado, AR 71730	Contact: Bill Peel Phone: 870.862.7921 Fax: 870.864.7003 E-mail: bpeel@sarhc.org
Little Rock	Professional Counseling Associates 650 South Shackleford Rd., Suite 217 PO Box 24210 Little Rock, AR 72211	Contact: Jannie Cotton Phone: 501.221.1843 Fax: 501.221.2376 E-mail: jannie.cotton@pca-ar.org
Jonesboro	Mid-South Heath Systems 2707 Browns Lane Jonesboro, AR 72401	Contact: Bonnie White Phone: 870.972.4000 Fax: 870.972.4968 E-mail: bwhite@mshs.org
Mountain Home	Ozark Counseling Services #8 Medical Plaza PO Box 1776 Mountain Home, AR 72654-1776	Contact: Mark Clark, Director Phone: 870.425.7929 Fax: 870.425.0263 E-mail: markclark@suddenlinkmail.com
Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff Psychological Associates PO Box 1099 Pine Bluff, AR 71613	Contact: Pam Cooney Phone: 870.534.2830 E-mail: pbpa2830@cablelynx.com
Russellville	Gretchen Douthit 103 N Hastings Ave Russellville, AR 72801-2425	Contact: Gretchen Douthit Phone/Fax: 479.968.4200 E-mail: gdouthit@suddenlink.net
Texarkana	Southwest Arkansas Counseling & MHC 2904 Ark Blvd. PO Box 1987 Texarkana, AR 75504	Contact: Dr. Dwight Sperry Phone: 870.773.4655 Fax: 870.773.4655 E-mail:triggman@aol.com

Counties Served by Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas and Mid-South Health Systems

Organization	Counties	Contact Info
Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas	Crittenden County Cross County Lee County Monroe County Phillips County St. Francis County	Contact: Roland Irwin, Ph.D. Clinical Services Director Phone: 870.630.9129 Fax: 870.630.1128 E-mail: rirwin@mshs.org
Mid-South Health Systems	Clay County Craighead County Greene County Lawrence County Mississippi County Poinsett County Randolph County	Contact: Frankie Hogue, Ph.D. Clinical Services Director Phone: 870.972.4000 Fax: 870.972.4968 E-mail: fhogue@mshs.org

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