Case #2: David
David has a history of being diagnosed with a Learning Disability. He is a college senior and has
contacted the ODR “to arrange his course substitution for the foreign language requirement because he
is graduating this year.”
He has not been registered with the ODR previously and has not used accommodations in college. He
was referred to a local psychologist for updated testing.
Early Learning History: The current psychoeducational evaluation report indicates David did not speak
his first words until age three. He received ongoing speech and language services throughout
elementary school under the category of “language impaired.”
David remembers being in the “slow” reading group in school, and always dreaded story time when the
teacher called on students individually to read out loud. David reports spelling has always been
“impossible.” He says he has learned to use short words he knows for written assignments and essay
tests to minimize his spelling errors. David’s written comments on the ODR intake form confirm this
self-report.
He went to a private high school and reports that he received “informal” support from his teachers. He
was given all the time he needed for tests and wasn’t penalized for spelling.
Foreign Language Learning History: David reports he was exempted from middle school and high school
language classes. His high school guidance counselor advised him to “never take a language.”
Standardized test scores:
WAIS-IV: Verbal comprehension index 120, Perceptual reasoning index 111, Working memory index 86,
Processing speed 97.
WJ-III Cognitive abilities
Retrieval fluency 95, Decision speed 113, Rapid picture naming 81
WJ-III Achievement tests:
Reading (Letter-word identification 95, Passage comprehension 100, Reading fluency 72, Word attack
93)
Math (Calculation 112, Math fluency 90, Applied problems 116)
Writing (Spelling 77, Writing samples 115, Writing fluency 77)
The Psychologist recommends a waiver of the foreign language requirement.
S.Scott & M. Banerjee
July 11, 2013
AHEAD national conference, Baltimore, MD
S.Scott & M. Banerjee
July 11, 2013
AHEAD national conference, Baltimore, MD