Specific Learning
Disabilities and the
Justice System
Linda Siegel
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, CANADA
linda.siegel@ubc.ca
1
Issues
• How can we assess learning disabilities
in prison populations?
• What type of interventions can we
provide considering that the target
populations are youth and adults?
2
Identifying Learning
Disabilities Is Important
• Studies all over the world provide evidence that
individuals involved with the justice system have
significantly higher rates of illiteracy than the
population as whole.
• Although less is known about mathematics difficulties
in incarcerated populations, there is some evidence
of significant difficulties with mathematics for
individuals involved with the justice system
3
Prison Costs - Canada
• $215,000 per year for each year for
each youth in custody
• $70,000 per year – the cost of a special
education teacher- 3 special education
teachers for $210,000
• Where should we spend the money?
– Prisons or
– Special Education teachers
4
Literacy and the Justice
System
• Low literacy skills and delinquency are
correlated
• Incarcerated youth have lower literacy than
non-incarcerated youth
• Recidivism is significalty more likely with
youth exiting the justice system with low
literacy skills
• Most incarcerated youth do not return to
school
5
Dyslexia
• Dyslexia = Reading disability
• Difficulty in the speed and accuracy
of word reading and spelling
– Unlike popular belief, dyslexia does
not mean that a person reverses
letters or writes them backwards
6
Characteristics Of Dyslexia
DIFFICULTY WITH:
•
•
•
•
•
Recognizing the sounds in speech
Knowing the sounds of the letters
Finding the right word
Grammar
Memory
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Characteristics Of Dyslexia
Strengths
• Music
• Sports
• Art
• Visual-Spatial Skills
• Mechanical Skills
8
Block Rotation
•The student is
required to identify
which of 2 patterns
represent the target
that has been
rotated in 3D space
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Professions
•
•
•
•
•
Photographer
Architect
Pilot
Mechanic
Air traffic controller
•
•
•
•
•
Carpenter
Engineer
Welder
Designer
Animator
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Group Assessment
• Spelling
• Orthographic
– Which is the correct spelling – teech or
teach
• Phonological
– Which sounds like a real word joak or joap
11
Intervention Programs
• Lindamood Bell
• Lexia
• Orton Gillingham
• ABRACADABRA & ePEARL
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Materials for Adults
• Grass Roots Press
– Materials for adults at varying reading
levels, even beginning levels
– Biographies of interesting people, even at
a grade 2 reading level
– Include material about individuals from
different ethnic, racial and cultural groups
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Essentials of Successful
Research on these Questions
• Co-operation between the researchers and
the justice system officials
• Reliable and targeted assessment
• Use of adult oriented remedial programs,
possibly computer based
• Use of appropriate non childish materials
• Career focused education
14