CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, December 7, 1992
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Students work to overcome learning disabilities
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Continued from Page 1.
dumb and lazy, you start to believe it. "Many students with learning disabilities do not do well in school and often have thought of themselves as dumb. That is not true. By definition, people who are intelligent have an average or above average intelligence.
"The thing that got me the most is that they gave me this diploma," said John Maddux, who lives with his parents in Overland Park. "I knew it wasn't fair that I had this high school diploma. I couldn't do anything a high school graduate could do."
Maddux flunked out of college twice. One of his friends figured out that at the pace he was taking classes, Maddux would not get a bachelor's degree until he was 48 years old.
Even the laws cannot save some students from falling.
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act addresses discrimination on college campuses. But it does not provide funds for any programs. It does say that all programs and activities are accessible to all disabled persons.
math to get a degree? I haven't come up with an answer."
Shuttic said of students at KU, "Some folks just can't do the requirements. If they have a severe math disability, and math is required here, it's like butting your head against the wall. You have to look for alternatives."
Colleges only have to provide reasonable accommodations, the kind that will provide an equal opportunity for an education, but they do not have to guarantee equal results.
But in order to be eligible for those alternatives or university assistance, a student must document the learning disability. KU requires that the documentation be no more than three years old. Private testing is expensive and costs up to $600. The cost might be partially covered by insurance or by getting a student loan.
Kam Slemka, St. Louis junior, who has dyslexia and has not been tested since she was 7 years old, resents the added cost.
Unfortunately, the costs confuse some and anger others.
"I have just spent $3,000 for tuition,
$350 for books and now $600 for
this!" she said. "This is a disability
way with you to rest of the rest of
life."
"The law does not attempt to reduce or lower standards, but to provide equal opportunity for students with learning disabilities," said Mike Hock, a researcher at the Institute for Research for Learning Disabilities.
Hock defends the retesting, saying that a student's ability could change
game board with different pitfalls and different solutions. My game board is so drastically different that I need different rules."
"I don't believe a learning disability goes away, but what does go away is how much that learning disability interferes with learning," he said.
"It's almost a lost cause," Chapel said. "They could give me a new brain because it's never going to get any easier. It will always be hard."
Other universities offer more intensive programs for students with learning disabilities than does KU.
In 1978, at the University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale, Barbara Cordoni, established one of the first programs on the college level specifically for students with learning disabilities.
The Achieve program is a resource center with 14 graduate assistants and more than 100 tutors who help students learn study strategies and time management. The students take the same classes as students without learning disabilities.
"The curriculum is not watered down," Cordonisai said. "We don't do the work for them. We have people come in that are functionally illiterate. Once they realize their learning capabilities and compete with students with no learning disabilities, they'll see as hard to get on the dean's list."
"One of the biggest debates is who can say what is a necessity for the degree?" said Laura Smedley, director of disabled student services at Johnson County Community College. "The degree says that you have the background in all the different areas. Can you substitute a foreign language with sign language or a math class with a computer class? Is it absolutely necessary to have foreign language or
The problem comes in defining the line between what is making reasonable accommodations and what is making the standards for the degree.
Hock said that problems for people with learning disabilities were compounded by the pressure of the classroom. Many people with learning disabilities, including Albert Einstein, John Lehnon, Gen. George Patton and John F. Kennedy, did just fine once they left school.
Hock pointed out that reality and school were two different things for students.
"It's the first time they are successful."
But they can't function in school.
And successful they are. The program has an 83-percent graduation rate.
"Most people play with the same game board and the same game pieces," said Jonathan Ellis, an Overland Park junior who took four days to take his Standardized Aptitude Test. "I play on a totally different
"You don't take a lot of tests after school," he said. "It is only a disability while they are in the classroom. They can function in society."
Shutty thinks KU offers a better system to prepare the student for life and work.
The biggest drawback to a program like Achieve is the cost. The program is self-supported and students pay an annual teach semester to get into the program.
Students with learning disabilities at Arizona State can substitute a foreign language with a cultural studies class of the foreign country. Philosophy or argumentation classes can substitute for math classes.
"It is good to have the options," he
Arizona State University offers a program similar to Achieve but without the added cost. It offers students an online lab, counseling and study groups.
shut and work hard. If they don't give me what I want, I will be a thorn in their side until they help me."
Turnbaugh said, "I go to the teachers the semester before I enroll in their classes. And I have had teachers tell me not to take their classes. I had one teacher tell me she wouldn't help a student cheat in her class."
said. "Programs like Achieve or the one at Arizona State are very helpful for students who need it, but they are fairly intrusive, very regimented. There's a lot of 'follow-along', which could be looked at as hand holding and taking some of the responsibility away from the student."
KU professors usually are willing to help, but students encounter those professors who do not understand learning disabilities.
"I'm very frustrated about the system," she said. "I just keep my mouth
"I realize it's our responsibility, but it's the teacher's responsibility too," Turnbaugh said.
Chapel said, "When you mention my dyslexia, the teacher's look says 'Stay away.' You are just more work for them."
KU emphasizes mainstreaming for students with learning disabilities. That philosophy places the responsibility of speaking up and out on the student. The students must learn about their disabilities and not be afraid to talk about it.
"Some of the things I try to do with people here is say, let's work on your method and strategy because this is the testing ground for when you leave," Shuttis said.
Having a learning disability is a permanent lesson in survival. But many students with learning disabilities are tough and willing to fight for success on their own terms.
"I've worked my ass off," Chapel said. "Being a dyslexic has made me responsible and strong. I will not allow myself to give less than 100 percent."
Turnbaugh, who flunked first grade because he did not know the alphabet, now has a 3.5 grade point average and is doing an honors thesis on autistic children.
"Can you believe this dumb hick is doing an honors thesis?" he said. "Now that I know that I am capable of making A's, I won't settle for anything less."
Holiday tradition
Students from KU's department of music and dance sing out during the 68th annual Vespers. The traditional holiday concert was held last night at Allen Field House.
ASK task forces will lobby for change
By Stacy Morford Kansan staff writer
Five delegations representing each member school of Associated Students of Kansas met yesterday in the Kansas Union to fine-tune their lobbying plans before the start of Kansas' legislative session in January.
More than 25 ASK members from KU, Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburgh State University broke into four committees to discuss university needs. The other Regents school, Wichita State University, pulled out of the lobbying coalition last spring.
Kathryn Price, KU's ASK co-chairperson, helped the task force on tuition and financing higher education write apology statement with suggestions to keep any tuition increase equal for both in-state and out-of-state students, to limit the fee-cost ratio so the state would pay 70 percent and students would pay 30 percent and to add Washburn University to the Regents system.
Student body president Brad Garlinghouse worked with the student life committee, which discussed lobbying for on-site registration and extending the time voting booths are open so that they are accessible to students.
The student life committee was created to bring issues to the ASK agenda that had more appeal for students in the school to pique their interest in ASK's work.
KU's ASK co-chairperson John Schwartz and the committee for educational equity discussed lobbying for the needs of non-traditional students, including child care and scholarships, working for a system-wide minority recruitment and retention program and restructuring college curriculums to better educate students about different cultures and societies.
The task force on campus safety discussed the inaccurate crime statistics turned in last year by Regents' schools and adopting minimal safety standards for Kansas universities. They suggested that the legislature make capital improvement projects, including increased lighting and emergency telephones, a priority on all campuses.
The student life committee also made plans for ASK's lobby day Feb. 8 and ASK awareness week Feb. 1 to 5. On lobby day the students from each ASK school will meet with legislators to discuss campus issues. The purpose of awareness week is to let students know through pamphlets and speakers what ASK is doing for them.
The Men of Lambda Chi Alpha would like to congratulate their brothers
Trent Knewtson on on his acceptance into Order of Omega and
Dustin Dougherty on receiving the Hilltopper Award!
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