II. 4. I'm a Writing Fellow and one of my clients has a problem with transitions and spelling. I think that she may have an undiagnosed LD. What should I do?

Congratulations on your good work as a Writing Fellow. One thing to remember is that you are not a diagnostician. As a Fellow, you most likely have a large repertoire of strategies and techniques, which will help any student with difficulties. Even experts in remediation agree that an eclectic approach which tries everything until something works is often the best strategy. Be creative and try to problem solve along with your client. What usually works best for her? Is she a visual or an auditory learner? Would it be helpful to read aloud what has been written? Would color coding sentences help in the organization of paragraphs? Would talking aloud (stream of consciousness) help to develop some thesis ideas? Remember, good teaching for those with disabilities is good teaching for everyone! Please feel free to schedule a meeting with me for some more specific techniques. Most likely, you are not the only Fellow experiencing this frustration or lack of success, and it may be useful to schedule a group workshop where common problems can be discussed and mutually helpful strategies shared.

Email Okie a question or comment!

II. Screening, Testing, and Diagnosis

1. I’m ready to be evaluated for a possible LD.  How should I go about finding the right clinician for me?
2. It takes me twice as long to read assignments and I never have enough time to finish tests. Do you think I have a learning disability?
3. What happens if I get tested and find out I don't have an LD?
4. I'm a Writing Fellow and one of my clients has a problem with transitions and spelling. I think that she may have an undiagnosed LD. What should I do?
5. I'm a current Barnard student and would like to have an evaluation for a possible learning disability (LD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It's so expensive. Who is responsible for paying for the evaluation?