Compare and contrast the identification procedure for students who have learning disabilities with the identification procedure for students who have ADHD. Be sure to include the teacher's role in the identification processes.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers should include this information about identifying students with LD: until recently, most professionals used the IQ-achievement discrepancy model to diagnose LD, but this approach is no longer mandated and often no longer appropriate; IDEIA 2004 includes the use of response to intervention (RTI) as an alternative to traditional aptitude-achievement discrepancy approaches to identifying students with LD; RTI provides a validated intervention to students in the instructional area of need before determining eligibility for special education. The teacher's role in the process: identify areas of need, referral, collaboration, and collect work samples and student information.

Answers should include this information about identifying students with ADHD: initial identification involves a medical evaluation, the identification process involves interviews and/or behavioral rating scales completed by parents, teachers, and, when appropriate, the student, cultural and ethnic factors are important considerations in the assessment process, and some instruments allow for observation and comparison to peers from the same cultural group. The teacher's role in the process: collect behavioral data, observe medication effects, and collaboration.