Our goal in requesting a psycho-educational evaluation report in order to document a specific learning disability or other cognitive or processing disorder is to develop appropriate accommodations that will best serve our students who have these types of disabilities. Therefore, while an older or incomplete evaluation may document a disability, it may not fully clarify the current need for appropriate accommodations. Similarly, reevaluations, which often restate previous older testing results, may not provide clarification of current accommodation needs. Please do not send IEPs or NORAs, nor do we wish to have more than one adult assessment.
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Evaluations must have been performed within the last three (3) years
A specific learning disability must be stated within the documentation submitted. If another diagnosis is applicable, such as Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, it should be stated. Please state the DSM diagnosis when available. -
Evaluations should include measurements of broad cognitive functioning, demonstrated on individually administered intelligence tests, including subtest scores. Suggested evaluation tools include the Wechsler Adult Scales or Woodcock Johnson Batteries.
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Specific cognitive processing strengths, weaknesses, and deficits should be discussed. Clear documentation of deficit areas is necessary in order for IUP to provide the appropriate accommodations. Please discuss the following processing areas:
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Visual spatial abilities
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Memory (auditory and visual; short- and long-term)
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Fine motor/dexterity (speed/sequence of motor patterns)
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Executive functions (verbal and nonverbal reasoning)
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Selective attention/perception (auditory and visual)
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Specific achievement deficits relative to potential must be documented. Suggested evaluation tools include the Wechsler Scales or Woodcock Johnson Batteries. Assessment results must be provided across the following areas:
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Written language
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Reading (decoding and comprehension) - Please indicate the student's ability to comprehend long reading passages (i.e., those which are typical on college exams)
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Mathematics (applied (word problems) and calculations)
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Oral language skills should be assessed and discussed. This office is interested to know if a student's learning disability or psychological disorder is impacting oral language and/or if a separate speech disorder is present. Please indicate if foreign language is a specific problem area.
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Social-emotional status should be assessed and discussed. Formal assessment instruments and/or clinical interviews are appropriate. The college experience is typically quite stressful for students who have learning or attention deficit disorders. To serve our students best, we need to know about their personality characteristics, psychological welfare, and self-esteem and stress level.
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Utilization of assessment instruments with age-appropriate norms is required. All standardized measures must be represented by standard scores or percentile ranks based on age-appropriate, published norms.
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Specific accommodations, appropriate to the diagnosis, should be offered in the report. These accommodations may include, but are not limited to: part-time enrollment; substitution of required courses; alternate examination formats, including extended time, isolated exam administration, oral exam administration, or other formats deemed appropriate to the student's specific learning disability or psychological disorder; aids or assistance with reading, writing, note-taking, test-taking, proofreading and transcription or typing; disability related counseling; priority registration, and; liaison with faculty, staff and community agencies.
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Please direct comments and questions regarding these guidelines to the Department for Disability Access and Center (D2A2).
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Note: We reserve the right to request additional documentation and to determine appropriate accommodations based upon documentation, your request, and our professional experience.
The above information can be downloaded here.
Updated June 2017