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THE YEARLY REVIEW
With every new semester, those of us at the LIGHT Center are faced with
the inevitable question from students and staff "What
is it that you do there?" For those of you who have been here a while,
perhaps the following information can be a good reminder. For those who
are new on campus, it is information that may prove helpful when working
with your students.
Four guidance courses are offered to students
here at the LIGHT Center.
Guidance 343
This class is the entry point for many students who are ultimately eligible
for disability services. This is a half unit class (18 hours) and involves
information dissemination, information gathering, and testing. The information
dissemination is related to providing the student with an orientation
to learning support services on campus, as well as information as to how
to utilize them. It is also an opportunity for the student to learn about
learning challenges. Students who enroll in this class have typically
been referred by one of the DSPS counselors or other staff and faculty
on campus. The students often come to us after having had some academic
difficulty. We engage in information gathering with the student to determine
if the student is suitable to be tested. This is done through the use
of an extensive case history. The subsequent testing is aimed at determining
the presence or absence of a Learning Disability as defined by the California
Community College, Chancellor's Office. The testing is completed on an
individual basis and consumes up to 8 hours per student. The student is
then determined to be eligible for services based on a learning disability
or not, and given an extensive debriefing of their results and learning
styles and challenges. During their enrollment in this class the students
are also able to make use of instructional assistance, study groups and
other supports within Disabled Students Programs and Services.
Guidance 345
This class is a variable unit class, ranging from 1 to 4 units per semester.
It is specifically designed for students with either a learning disability
or some other condition that affects their academic experience. The course
requires the completion of lab hours as well as lecture hours. The lab
hours are accrued by coming into the LIGHT Center and working with the
instructional assistants or meeting with other students to work on their
mainstream coursework. The lecture component is comprised of attendance
in seminar style miniclasses, designed to address specific educational
needs. There are miniclasses in such areas as Critical Writing, Journal
Writing, Internet Research, Math Anxiety, Memory Development, Stress Management,
and Study Skills. The lecture component of this class can also involve
participation in a study group headed by an instructional assistant, a
video assignment or other activities designed to address specific learning
needs.
Comments? mailto:trish-blair@redwoods.edu
Quotation of the Week
Every cloud has its silver lining
but it is sometimes a little difficult to get it to the mint. -- Don Marquis
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VERY COOL
Students with disabilities are also able to take adaptive computer training
classes. These are held in the High Tech Center, which is also located
in the LIGHT Center. There are two specific classes available to students
here:
Guidance 379
This is a class for students entering the program, or for students who
have little or no experience with computers. It is an opportunity to learn
computer use in a small group and/or individual basis, learn the names
of computer parts, and basically feel more comfortable around computers.
Guidance 380
This class allows the student to delve into greater depths in terms of
computer use. This class allows for small group instruction in specific
computer applications including:
- Adaptive software designed for
students with significant reading or vision problems and includes Zoom-Text,
Kurzweil 1000/3000, PaperPort Deluxe, JAWS, and closed circuit TV.
- Introduction to applications including Microsoft Access,
Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Internet/E-mail usage including an introduction to
Web browsers, search engines, bookmarks and Internet workings.
- Introduction to word processing and the writing of
college papers. Instruction includes entering and editing text, formatting
letters, spell checking, and pagination.
- Introduction to the basics of Windows operating system,
including instruction in file management, usage of the control panel.
- Independent Study
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