Projects

Faculty Awareness and Training in the Post-Secondary Community: An Annotated Bibliography

Learning Disabilities Association of Canada/Mount Allison University

Ottawa, Ontario

Introducing Learning Disabilities to Post-Secondary Educators (1996)

An in-service training program

This 56-page resource book is an in-service training program that has been developed to benefit instructors and counselors at post-secondary institutions who may have students with learning disabilities in their classrooms. It is a series of pre-planned workshops that discuss the nature and characteristics of learning disabilities, learning problems, specific academic deficits, social/emotional deficits, career-related effects, learning styles and classroom climate. Each workshop is broken up into the following sections: philosophy and objective, materials needed, time required, key terms and possible discussions; and activities in which faculty can participate that will give them greater insight into the life of a person with a learning disability. The book stresses the importance of teaching using more than one instructional method (auditory, visual, tactile, etc.). One of the strongest features of the program is the overheads and handouts that are concise, clearly laid out and easy to read. They make effective use of charts and graphs. The publications are available in both French and English.

The Meighen Centre for Learning Assistance and Research at Mount Allison University produced this excellent publication in partnership with the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. The project was funded by Human Resources Development Canada.

Learning Disabilities in the Classroom (1996)

Handbook for Post-Secondary Instructors

This handbook was created as a guide for instructors at the post-secondary level who have students with learning disabilities in their classrooms. This book creates awareness of learning disabilities and shows how specific strategies and tools can help the student work effectively.

A student forum was held in Sackville. New Brunswick, during which students shared their experiences and expertise on living with a learning disability. The students suggested that the book should be set up in a way that was user friendly for students with a learning disabilities. It should also show faculty different methods that are helpful for all learning styles (i.e. use of bullets, maps, charts, different fonts, materials presented in small, clear chunks, Q&A sections, along with personal case histories of students with a LD).

This book reviews the nature and characteristics of a student with learning disabilities and attempts to create awareness of their LDs in the classroom. Disclosure, confidentiality, self-advocacy, assessments and the right to education are discussed. This book demonstrates strategies that will help with time orientation, organization, teaching, learning, and evaluation. The largest section focuses on teaching strategies and tools. There is also a reference section of resources on the Internet, disability association contact information, videos and books. A glossary of terms and a bibliography of other relevant publications are assets to the reader.

The Meighen Centre for Learning Assistance and Research at Mount Allison University produced this excellent publication in partnership with the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. The project was funded by Human Resources Development Canada.

"Together for Success: A Road Map For Post-Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities"

Guidebook

This sixty-page guidebook was prepared in 1994 by the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada's Post-Secondary Students' Ad Hoc Committee. Seven young adults with learning disabilities from across Canada met to advise LDAC on what was required for success at post-secondary institutions.

The result is a "how to" book which includes chapters on: Self-Disclosure; Self-Advocacy and Accommodations; Support Services; Focus Groups; Dealing with Stress, Anger and Frustrations; Transitional Planning for High School Students; and, Students' Rights and Responsibilities.

The book can be purchased alone or with an audio cassette. It is a handy resource for high school guidance counsellors, and special needs counsellors of universities and colleges. It is also a "must have" for students with learning disabilities about how to enter college or university.

Both the book and the cassette are also available in French.

Information Fact Sheets

A series of information fact sheets are available through LDAC for post-secondary students and their families. Topics include: checklist for comparing LD services at post-secondary institutions; your campus visit; preparation and accommodations; and "LD and You at University." An information fact sheet is also available for post-secondary professors. All fact sheets are available in French and English.

Contact
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada
323 Chapel Street
Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7Z2
Phone: 613-238-5721
Fax: 613-235-5391
Email: information@ldac-taac.ca
Web site: http://www.ldac-taac.ca