How does the identification of students with special
needs, legislation, and instructional differentiation
relate to my practice and higher education students
in the Southern State Community College?
Svetlana M. Kazakova-Kincaid
Wilmington College
LD 550
Southern State Community College
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SSCC is two-year community college
It was established in 1975 as Southern State General and
Technical College
Became Southern State Community College in 1977
Serves a five-county: Adams, Brown, Clinton (Wilmington
City), Highland (Hillsboro), and Fayette (Washington Court
House) Counties
It has a campus or an operating facility
Specific career training
Transfer students
Adult basic literacy courses and workforce training
programs
Southern State Community College
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Advantages:
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Very affordable, accessible, and descent quality
education
In 2009 – 2010 academic year SSCC chose not to raise
its tuition
Increase in enrollment by 30 percent
3,500 students attending
Disadvantages:
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No room and board opportunities for students
Very little ethnic diversity
Southern State Community College
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Classrooms:
 Newly built
 Very bright and conducive for learning
 Technology is a priority (Smart boards, Computer labs,
Mobile labs)
Classes:
 English 100: preparation for College Writing
 English 101: Introduction to an Essay
 English 102: English Essay and Composition
 English 103: Introduction to Literature
Southern State Community College
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Student age range: 17 to 60
Students per class: 2- 20
Gender ratio: 2:20, males to females
Student characteristics: mostly serving general education students
with very few diagnosed with Learning Disabilities or more intensive
disorders like highly functioning Autism.
Syllabus: “Students with disabilities may contact the Disabilities
Service Office, Central Campus, at 800-628-7722 or 937-393-3431.
Accommodations for this class will not be made unless the
requirements for those accommodations are communicated to me
(your instructor) through Connie Horne, Disabilities Services
Coordinator”
Design of the instruction
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Core curriculum, as outlined in the SSCC
curriculum and catalogue
Attempt to modify instruction to student’s
instructional level:
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Allowing Dictaphones
Guided notes
Extended time
Two versions of the test or in-class handouts
Social skills even with modeling because we are talking
about young adults or adults with formed habits
Students’ accommodations = testing and all class work
Assessment
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Assessments and instruction is done with
basic accommodations
Student progress monitoring:
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Test scores
Effort and motivation
External circumstances
Relevant Events From My Practice
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Not applicable:
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Identification process
Parental involvement
Referring and assessments By the time they
enter SSCC they either have been
Identified or have never been referred
Common Issues
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Some students are facing significant reading challenges, which is
consistent with research findings reported by Kavale and Reese, which
in turn affects student’s spelling and writing (Kavale and Reese qtd. in
Turnbull, Turnbull and Wehmeyer 2007)
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Classes are reading and writing intensive classes
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Students are feeling overwhelmed by:
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The idea of getting started
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Struggling to organize and use mechanics of writing even with a
tutor’s assistance
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Issues with spelling and writing papers (in-class assignments)
legibly
Common Issues
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Deal with young adult and/or adult
population
Parents do not have any access to
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Their records
Work samples and information regarding their
college achievement
No useful input or parent advocacy
RTI
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The basic RTI model can be utilized, but:
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No time to work with students, who do not respond
to the generally effective instruction
No time to work with the next available research
based methodology
System Shortcomings
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No requirement to have general education or
special education background
Having an Ed. D. or Ph. D in the content area, or
a Master’s
Basic training on methods of teaching and
learning
No adequate training or knowledge provided on
how to plan a universal design for learning or
provide accommodations based on anecdotal data
Conclusion
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K-12 education system = changes
System = generations of unidentified children, nowadays
adults
Educational departments = more or less adequate training
Higher education teachers do not receive adequate training
Standard placement test practices = huge barrier for LD
students
Need for adjustment in the legislature system
Adjustment of the admissions tests
Implementation of strategies and accommodations