Minnesota Adult Basic Education Disabilities

The overall goal of a Learning Disability (LD) assessment is to clearly identify the existence and impact of a biological, neurological or acquired (from brain injury) learning disability. Recommended ‘best-practice’ suggests a comprehensive process that includes not only standardized test results and interpretation, but history, observation, and the functional limitations of a learning disability on the adult’s performance in school, work, and life.

A comprehensive process of assessment for adult learning disabilities should include the following components:

• Personal, medical, family, and language background
• Educational history of difficulties and/or special service
• Previous assessment results (if available and current)
• Observations
• Tests used and results for intellectual performance or cognitive abilities
• Identification of cognitive strengths and weaknesses
• Tests used and results for academic achievement skills
• Identification of achievement strengths and weaknesses
• Diagnosis statement for the learning disability
• Educational and/or vocational recommendations for instruction, accommodation, and/or referral

In addition, the above components must be documented in a professional written report on letterhead and signed by the examiner(s) for review by various agencies determining eligibility for service or approval for accommodations.

Learning Disability Association (LDA) Minnesota ABE Assessments

LDA is funded by supplemental services from the Minnesota Department of Education to provide comprehensive LD assessment at no cost to Minnesota ABE students. If you believe a student may have LD, or they report a history of LD and/or special education service, refer them to LDA for LD assessment or re-assessment. The primary goals are to provide:

• Self-understanding of cognitive and achievement strengths and weaknesses
• Documentation of LD in order to request reasonable accommodations for testing, school, or work
• Recommendations leading to prescriptive and more effective instruction

The FY 2010 referral process is as follows:

1. Contact LDA at www.ldaminnesota.org or call (952) 922-8374 to request the Minnesota Adult Basic Education (ABE) Screening and Application for Assessment
2. If you are out state (beyond the seven-county metro area), a traveling assessment may be arranged if there are two or more referrals from the same consortium.
3. Complete the application with your student(s) and return to LDA via mail or fax (952) 922-8102.
4. After reviewing an application from a metro ABE student and teacher, LDA will contact the student to set up two appointments (cognitive and achievement testing).
5. After reviewing applications from out state students and teachers, LDA will contact the referring teacher(s) to set up cognitive and achievement testing at the ABE program site.
6. Following the completion of the two tests, a written report will be completed by the examiners. This typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete and review.
7. The final report can be shared with the student at LDA during a feedback conference or reviewed with the teacher and student during a phone conference.
8. If the student meets GED criteria for requesting accommodations, the appropriate GEDTS request form will be completed by LDA and sent to the referring teacher.

If your student already has current (five years or less) documentation, you can complete the "Request for GED Accommodation" form for Learning Disabilities as your student's advocate. Click here to see the GED LD Accommodation Form. Be sure to attach a copy of the report when you mail in the request.