Minnesota Adult Basic Education Disabilities

The following two interviews may be helpful:

Student Interview One is a special list of progressive interview questions to ask of American-born ABE students who may have LD.

Student Interview Two is an additional and more generic list of questions to elicit and document student self-knowledge of what works and what does not work for them.

Student Interview One                 Name_________________

Directions:  Not all questions need to be asked. Begin with #1 and proceed to #2, #3, etc. if ‘yes’ responses are given or if information is essential for program planning. Discontinue the questions when a sequence of ‘no’ responses is given. Discontinue if the student appears uncomfortable or offended by the questioning.

1. Did you receive any special help in school?     _____yes  _____no
2. What subjects did you receive help in?
3. What type of special help was useful?
4. What type of special help was not useful?
5. Did other family members (parents, siblings) receive any special help while in school?   _____yes  _____no
6. Did you receive help in elementary school?      _____yes  _____no
   middle school? _____yes  _____no    high school?  _____yes  _____no
7. Do you remember being tested for a learning disability? _____yes     _____no
8. Do you remember having an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or yearly meetings about your IEP?  _____yes  _____no
9. Do you remember receiving any special accommodations (or changes) in your classes, assignments, or testing? _____yes     _____no
10. What special accommodations were helpful?

Note: Often Chapter or Title 1 service is discontinued at middle school due to limited funding. Special education, by law, must continue if needed until graduation or age 22 years.

Student Interview Two             Name______________________

Directions:  The following questions can be asked of American-born or foreign-born students. The purpose is to determine a more complete history of education and reported school experiences. The interviewer may pick and choose the questions that will provide useful information for understanding and program planning.

1. Where did you go to school?
2. How many years of school did you complete?
3. Was your attendance regular or irregular?       _____yes  _____no

   Please explain any attendance problems.

4. What was your favorite subject? Why?
5. What was your least favorite subject? Why?
6. How long have you been out of school?
7. Do you read, write, or do math at home or work?      _____yes  _____no

   If yes, what do you do?

8. How do you learn new things at home or work?
9. If you are having difficulty learning new things at home or work, what do you do to help yourself?
10. What is most important for a teacher or tutor to know about you and how you learn?