Disability policy/compliance "geeks" What works!

Submitted by Robin Matusow on Tue, 11/13/2012 - 20:31
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Hi all,

I am interested in hearing what has worked in your settings in terms of compliance. My interest is in the connection between policy/practice and student improvement or access. Anybody got any good stuff going on? I have discussed this with large organizations who have “asked" this type  question in a national format and reported the responses they received were so significantly different, they had difficulties coming up with what could be consistently reported as best practices. Lets see!!!

 

Comments

Hi Rochelle and all,

Let's see if this is more specific.

My interest is in policy that affects the areas of adult education in which students with disabilities experience difficulties as well as areas in which policy is used to meet federal or state requirements. For example: In a previous statement by a group members he discussed noticing students who, from the registration and testing situations, appeared to have difficulties because of disability. What policies do our programs have to address that observation and the logical outcome of poor testing/placement results due to disability? What procedures, formal or informal do we use in these situation. What policy or process do we use to assist our students in the classroom in terms of accommodations? Are these formalized processes or could you have an adult ed student in multiple classes with accommodations in one or two but not the others?

If our institutions lack formal provisions of services, does that not keep students with disabilities institutionally invisible?

Hi all,

In terms of policy from the state, I would like to mention a few things that encompass the protection of students with disabilities including adult students.  These can be found within Florida Statute, Rule and in the Curriculum Frameworks.  Florida's state laws and regulations support the mandates of federal laws (e.g., Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Adults with Disabilities Amendments Act. 

Note: Florida Statute (F.S.) found at  http://archive.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=XLVIII#TitleXLVIIIAll Florida Statutes covers grades K-20

 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) (i.e.,Rules)  can be found at http://www.fldoe.org/rules/

Please see below for further references:

The Florida Equity Act-Section 1000.05(1)(2a), F.S.

Adult with a Disability-Section 1004.02(7), F.S.

Educational Equity 6A-19, F.A.C.

Scope,Coverage, Definitions 6A-19.001, F.A.C.

Treatment of Students  6A-19002, F.A.C.

Definitions, ESE Policies and Proceedures 6A-6.03411, F.A.C.

General Requirements for Adult General Education Program 6A-014, F.A.C.

Curriculum Frameworks at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/ad_frame.asp  look under "Accommodations"

Suggested accommodations can be found in the document, Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities in Career Education and Adult Education (2011) P. 39 at  http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/311201_acmod-voc.pdf

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, Robin.  I understand perfectly now.  That's a good question to explore.  Patti White from Arkansas is always the first person I ask about LD policy questions.  Hopefully, she will see this and respond.

Rochelle Kenyon, SME

I am wondering if group members would be interested in several documents that are part of the policy compliance resources mentioned in previous posts but are "re-grouped" into a quick accommodations process? The process ( part of a larger compliance system) was designed to assist counselors in writing 504 plans and classroom teachers in providing concrete classroom accommodations.

Hi Robin,

I think that is a wonderful idea. Your policy compliance resources would be so helpful for those adult educators who are not in states that have already developed this material. Please go ahead and make those available by posting links to where they can be accessed.  If you need to actually post them inside the group, we will have to make arrangements with the group leader.

Thanks for the offer,

Rochelle Kenyon, SME 

 

Rochelle and all,

I will attempt to give the group the links and descriptions for the documents so they can be accessed directly from their source.

The links below are parts of the University of Kansas and Florida Department of Education materials referenced in previous posts. These "parts" can be combined to develop a basic set of accommodations used for 504 plans and classroom instruction.

The Functional Needs Interview-Interviewer Protocol - pgs. 1-11

http://das.kucrl.org/images/project_uploads/acc-master.pdf

This document can be completed in whole or appropriate parts. It can be completed by the student or read to the student and discussed to assure complete answers. It will help both the student and counselor/instructor break down learning difficulties into specific categories and functional/educational descriptions. Once completed, the accommodation needs can be "matched" with those listed on the following documents:

Accommodations by Functional Needs -pgs.117-121

http://das.kucrl.org/images/project_uploads/acc-proguide.pdf

Suggestions for accommodations in specific areas of instruction and assessment. pgs. 39-50

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/311201_acmod-voc.pdf

I would encourage group members to explore the complete information on accommodations that the above materials were taken from.

 

I am interested in hearing what group members think of using the above documents or if any other similar documents or accommodation processes are used.

Hi Robin,

For those who has never put an accommodation process in place, your documents will be so helpful to get them started.  Thanks for sharing all these wonderful resources.

Do any of our members have either a local or state accommodation process in place?  If so, I invite you to share what you use.

Thanks,

Rochelle Kenyon, SME