Request for AALRC Funding for WAIS-IV Evaluation formL
Learning Disabilities Diagnosis Referral
Process for GED Accommodations
Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard administrations of the
regular print GED Tests. In such cases, accommodations to standard testing
may be arranged for students with documented disabilities: physical,
emotional/mental, ADHD or learning. There is an accommodation request
procedure and certifying form, which must be processed before a request
may be granted. This form is available from all Arkansas GED Examiners. For
more information about GED accommodations, go to
http://ace.arkansas.gov/adultEducation/programs/GED/Pages/default.aspx.
To download a copy of the form, go to
http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/take/Accomm_Re
quest_Form_LCD.pdf.
If a student requires new or updated documentation of a learning disability,
the AALRC Disabilities Project Manager can assist local programs in making
an appropriate referral for diagnosis. There are several options available,
and each case will be considered on an individual basis based on specific
student information:
If the student has existing documentation of a learning disability
that has been completed within the last five (5) years, the local
program can request a copy of the documentation from the school or clinic
that completed the diagnosis. The request must be made in writing,
preferably using a Release of Confidential Information form printed on the
program's letterhead paper. A sample release form may be copied for
program use from the LD Policy Manual at
http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/policyManual/appendixC.pdf.
If the student has NO existing documentation of a learning
disability, and if the student DOES NOT have a job, the local program
should refer the student to the local Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
agency program to determine eligibility for services. The purpose of ARS is
to help people with disabilities become employed and the LD diagnosis is
part of their intake process. However, if the student has no desire to get a
job, please do not refer them to ARS.
2/9/2016
1
The Commissioner of ARS has authorized the referral of adult education and
literacy students to ARS for diagnosis of learning disabilities. For students
who are working towards getting their GED diploma, the diagnosis will
include the WAIS-IV test, required by the national GED Testing Service in
Washington DC to request accommodations for a learning disability.
Students who are referred to ARS MUST:



be unemployed and seeking employment;
indicate a possible learning disability as a result of a screening process
at the local adult education or literacy center; and
complete the Woodcock-Johnson III achievement test before ARS
conducts any testing.
When the student is referred to ARS, they must take the following to
their initial meeting with the ARS counselor:




any completed screening information that indicates the possibility of a
learning disability; e.g., TABE or Practice Test scores both with and
without accommodations applied;
a confidential release of information form, signed by the student, that
authorizes you to share the screening results with the ARS
psychologist;
a copy of the official GED Accommodation Request for Testing
Accommodations, Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities (LCD),
available at
http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/take/Accom
m_Request_Form_LCD.pdf, along with the Woodcock-Johnson scores
recorded and signed by the person who administered that test; and
a letter (on your program's letterhead) requesting the diagnosis.
Please indicate that the psychologist should complete Section 3 on the
LCD form. Also, include your contact information in case the
psychologist has any questions.
This authorization is the result of increased collaboration between adult
education and literacy programs and ARS, and represents an enormous
system change for Arkansas service providers.
If the student DOES HAVE a job, and DOES HAVE financial resources
to pay for diagnosis, then the program may assist the student in choosing
a clinic or private psychologist to conduct the LD evaluation. The average
cost of an LD diagnosis is $500-$800. Many students who are employed will
have insurance that covers all or most of this cost, but they may not be
aware of that coverage prior to investigation. Local mental health councils
will conduct LD diagnosis on a sliding scale, which may make it affordable
for many students with limited financial resources. Universities with
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2
graduate programs in clinical psychology may also provide LD diagnosis on a
sliding scale.
If the student DOES HAVE a job, but HAS NO financial resources to
pay for diagnosis, the Arkansas Department of Career Education, Adult
Education Division, has authorized a limited amount of funding for the
AALRC to pay contracted clinics and psychologists to conduct the WAIS-IV
tests. The AALRC has contracted with a number of psychological testing
centers to provide WAIS-IV testing for students who are working towards a
GED and need to request accommodations on the GED test for a specific
learning disability. These contracts are only for students who have no
existing, current diagnosis; no existing resources to pay for diagnosis; and
whose goal is to get their GED diploma.
The contracts are designed to facilitate the process of learning disabilities
diagnosis for students who are undiagnosed, but at some point in the
screening process, demonstrate a high probability of the existence of a
learning disability. Payment will be made by the Arkansas Adult Learning
Resource Center (AALRC) directly to the diagnostician.
If the student has insurance or any other resources that would pay for the
testing, that student is not eligible for testing under this contractual
arrangement. Only students with no available resources will be
eligible to have their testing paid by the AALRC. This agreement
applies only to those students whose goal is to get a GED.
Unemployed students should still be referred to Arkansas Rehabilitation
Services whenever possible.
There are two types of tests required to request accommodations for
learning disabilities for the GED: (1) a measurement of academic
achievement, and (2) a measurement of potential or intelligence. The
referral process for testing in Arkansas includes the Woodcock Johnson-III
(WJ-III) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-IV). Janice
Hanlon, State GED Administrator, coordinates a group of GED Examiners and
adult education instructors to administer the WJ-III for students who are
working towards a GED and will be referred for a learning disabilities
diagnosis. Please contact the certified professional nearest your center to
arrange for him or her to conduct the WJ-III with your student BEFORE you
refer the student for the WAIS-IV. There is no cost to your program or
student for this testing, although your program will be required to pay for
the examiner's travel.
Contact one of the following individuals to administer the Woodcock Johnson
Achievement Test Part III, Section C on L-15. The school requesting the test
must pay the travel expenses for the tester. Call Patti White, Disabilities
Coordinator, at 1-800-569-3539 to arrange for Intelligence testing (Section
Three) on the Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities request form.
2/9/2016
3
(Updated 11/11)
Professionals Certified to Administer the WJ-III
Location
Name
Program
Contact Info
Bentonville
NWACC Adult
479.986.6911
Education
Berryville
Jean
Carroll County
870.423.4455
Singleton
Adult
jsingleton2000@hotmail.com
Education
Camden
Terry
Ouachita
870.837.4003
Jackson County Adult
Education
Clarksville Shirley
Johnson
479.754.2620
Freeman County Adult
jcaecsf@centurytel.net
Education
Clinton Gayla Feist North Central
870.745.6554
Career Center
gfeist@scsd.info
Bruce
Conway
Conway Adult
501.450.4810
McSpadden
Education
or
501.450.4859
Crossett
UAM College
870.364.6414
of Technology
carter@uamont.edu
at Crossett
Dermott Kleeman Dermott Adult
870.538.1052
O’Leary
Education
kleemano@yahoo.com
Fayetteville
Susan
Fayetteville
479.444.3041
Socia
Adult
Education
Ft. Smith
Gary
Ft. Smith
479.785.1232
Udouj or
Adult
gudouj@fortsmithschools.org
Marcia
Education
Dye
Harrison
Judy
NAC Adult
870.391.3198
Waters
Education
jwaters@northark.edu
2/9/2016
Janie
Carter
4
Leslie
Lonoke
Malvern
Jan
North Central
Hennessee, Career Center
Mary Kirk
Dianne Lonoke/Prairie
501.676.7054
Faucett Counties Adult faucett@lonokeadulted.org
Education
Jan
Robertson
Melbourne
Ouachita
Technical
College Adult
Education
Sandra Miller
Ozarka
College
Adult
Education
Marked
Effie
ASU Technical
Tree
Dungan
Center
Nashville
Dawn
UA Cossatot
Humphrey Community
College,
Nashville
Newport
ASU Newport
Adult
Education
North
Charles
Pulaski
Little Rock Carter
County
Special School
District Adult
Education
Paragould
Joan
Arkansas
Eveland Northeastern
College –
Greene
County
2/9/2016
870.447.6111
janh@scsd.info
mkirk@scsd.info
Martha
Taussig
501.332.5002
jrobertson@coto.edu
870.368.2052
smiller@ozarka.edu
870.358.2117
jmdungan@dtisp.com
870.845.2454
,
Ext. 294 or
800.844.4471
,
Ext. 294
DHumphry@cccua.edu
870.512.7824
mtaussig@asun.edu
501.945.6055
chucklr62@yahoo.com
870.215.0433
jeveland@anc.edu
5
Pine Bluff
Jefferson
870.534.5823
County Adult
Education
Pocahontas Tammie
Black River
870.368.2052
Lemmons
Technical
College Adult
Education
Russellville
Pat
Russellville
479.968.5244
Collins,
Adult
pat.collins@rsdmail.k12.ar.us
Dorothy
Education
Harris
Springdale
NTI Adult
479.751.0181
Education
To re-cap, if you have a student who may have a learning disability and
needs to be referred for diagnosis, and if that student's goal is to get a GED
and has no existing resources to pay for the WAIS-IV, please complete the
following steps:
1. Submit the completed Request for AALRC Funding for WAIS-IV
Evaluation form to the AALRC Disabilities Project Manager at
prwhite@madisoncounty.net. After it has been approved, the student
must take the form to the psychological clinic on the date of their
evaluation to provide documentation that the AALRC will pay for the
testing.
2. Discuss the referral process with the student. Be sure the student
understands what a learning disability is and why they are being
referred for diagnosis.
3. Contact the nearest WJ-III certified examiner and arrange for a
time for them to come and test your student. That person will
complete the appropriate section of the LCD, the GEDTS official form
for requesting accommodations on the GED. Note: Your center is
responsible for paying the WJ-III examiner's travel to your program to
do the testing.
4. Set an appointment with one of the psychological centers under
contract for your student to take the WAIS-IV. Be sure the center
knows the referral is from your program.
5. Be sure the student takes the LCD form with the WJ-III scores
filled out when they go for their WAIS-IV test. This information
will assist the psychologist in the diagnosis process.
6. Your local GED examiner should be able to assist you in this
whole process, and should be involved from the beginning. He
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6
or she will work with the student to complete the rest of the LCD form
and submit the completed form to the state office.
Contracted Psychological Testing Centers
for WAIS-IV Testing
City
Test Center
Arkadelphia
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR
Benton
Counseling Clinic
307 E. Sevier
Benton, AR 72015
NW AR Behavior Therapy
Clinic
Bentonville
2717 SE "I" Street, Suite 1
Bentonville, AR 72712
Julia Frost
Dody Pelts
Clarksville
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR 72830
El Dorado
Harrison
South Arkansas Regional
Health Center
715 North College Ave.
El Dorado, AR 71730
Dr. Byron Dickinson
19234 North Bass Lane
Lead Hill, AR 72644
Mid-South Heath Systems
Jonesboro 2707 Browns Lane
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Professional Counseling
Associates
650 South Shackleford Rd.,
Little Rock
Suite 217
PO Box 24210
Little Rock, AR 72211
2/9/2016
Contact Info
Contact: Charlie Weiner
Phone:
E-mail (work): WEINERC@hsu.edu
E-mail (home):
chuckw19@excite.com
Contact: Jim Gregory
Phone: 501.315.4224
Fax: 501.776.0411
Email: jgregory@cc-inc.org
Contact: Donna M. Van Kirk, Ed.D.
Phone: 479.271.6103
Fax: 479.271.6109
E-mail: d_van_kirk@yahoo.com
Website:www.betherap.com
Contact: Julia Frost
Phone: 479.979.1401
E-mail: jfrost@ozarks.edu
Contact: Dody Pelts
Phone: 479.979.1401
E-mail: dpelts@ozarks.edu
Contact: Regina Pierce
Phone: 870.862.7921
Fax: 870.864.7003
E-mail: pbrasher@sarhc.org
Contact: Dr. Byron Dickinson
Phone: 830-928-0822
E-Mail: dr.byron@doctor.com
Contact: Bonnie White
Phone: 870.972.4000
Fax: 870.972.4968
E-mail: bwhite@mshs.org
Contact: Jannie Cotton
Phone: 501.221.1843
Fax: 501.221.2376
E-mail: jannie.cotton@pca-ar.org
7
Southwest Arkansas
Counseling & MHC
Texarkana 2904 Ark Blvd.
PO Box 1987
Texarkana, AR 75504
Contact: Dr. Dwight Sperry
Phone: 870.773.4655
Fax: 870.773.4655
E-mail:triggman@aol.com
Counties Served by Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas
and Mid-South Health Systems
Organization
Counseling Services of Eastern
Arkansas
Mid-South Health Systems
2/9/2016
Counties
Crittenden
County
Cross County
Lee County
Monroe County
Phillips County
St. Francis
County
Clay County
Craighead
County
Greene County
Lawrence
County
Mississippi
County
Poinsett County
Randolph
County
Contact Info
Contact: Roland Irwin,
Ph.D.
Clinical Services Director
Phone: 870.630.9129
Fax: 870.630.1128
E-mail: rirwin@mshs.org
Contact: Frankie Hogue,
Ph.D.
Clinical Services Director
Phone: 870.972.4000
Fax: 870.972.4968
E-mail: fhogue@mshs.org
8