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Students with Suspected Disabilities
There may be occasions when you are working with a student who is having academic difficulties
that cannot be explained by typical college circumstances (the student needs to study more or has
personal problems). It may be the student has an undiagnosed disability. However, don't assume
that everyone with academic problems has a disability. This information will help you decide when
to refer a student to Disability Services for Students for a consultation regarding a suspected
disability.
It is best to speak with the student privately and express your concern in a non-judgmental way.
For example, "I'm concerned about your performance in my class. You understand the concepts and
are a good participant in class discussion, but your test grades don't seem to reflect your grasp
of the subject."
- Give the student ample time to respond to your concerns.
- Gather information that will help you make the appropriate referral by focusing on
discovering what is interfering with the student's performance. For example, is the
student using ineffective study strategies to prepare for a test? Is the student
experiencing personal problems that are taking time away from school work? Or, is the
student doing all the "right things" but still having difficulty passing the tests?
- Has the student tried to solve his/her problem by working with one of the campus
services, i.e. the Writing Center, the University Learning Center, the Counseling
Center or Psychological Services? If not, a referral to one of them may be appropriate.
If the student has tried other solutions without results, the student may have an
undiagnosed disability that is interfering with academic performance.
- If the student says he/she "used to have a disability" or you think there may be
an undiagnosed disability, refer the student to Disability Services for Students (DSS)
for a consultation. The student can contact DSS at 777-3425 or come to the office in
McCannel Hall, Rm. 190 for a confidential meeting.
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