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Show Students Faced With Special Challenges by Debbie Williams Forum staff writer " Going to college is hard, but by going, I can show other learning-disable- d students that it can be done, said Eddie Pittman, a Westminster senior who has a learning-disabilit- y. A lot of people will think that you are or lazy dumb. Youre not dumb, it just takes longer to do certain things," he said. According to Bill Simmons, director of academic support services at Westminster, a learning disability is not a form ofmental retardation, but it is a permanent disorder which affects the way individuals with normal or above average intelligence take in, retain, and express information. said a learning-disable- d student has one or more of these three problems. One is that they cannot take information in correctly. They have difficulties in both spoken and written language. Short attention span and the inability to filter out other distractions are signs ofa problem in taking in information. A second problem comes in processing the information once it has been taken in. Simmons An example would be a concept of algebra. A student without a disability already has a concept of numbers. New information can then be combined with the main concept and organized. A person who has difficulty processing the information cannot get the new information organized around what they already know. A third problem is the inability to access or bring out information that is in the memory. Short term memory loss is a sign, and many L.D. students have this problem. A person unable to access information has a difficult time with multiple choice tests. They can read the question, but by the time they have read all of the choices, they have forgotten what the question was. No concrete evidence has been determined to cause the disorder, but Simmons saidthatsome theories have been that there are chemical imbalances in the brain, or that the synapses, where one neuron or nerve fiber ends and another begins, are not functioning correctly. For many years, according to Petersons Guide - to Colleges with Programs for Learning-Disable- d Students," individuals wanted to learning-disable- d Students Race Against Drugs seven years, more and more L.D. students have been making it into college. "Here on this campus, we have about 30 students who have been identified as having a learning disability," he said. He also said that unfortunately, there are students who are struggling with school, possibly because of a learning disability that has not been diagnosed. It is amazing, but a good third of the L.D. students did not discover that they had a learning disability until they gotinto been medically diagnosed they can take advantage of the things like the books on tape for the blind." Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap against persons in programs or activities receiving or benefiting from federal assistance, postsecondary schools are required to accommodate these individuals needs, said Simmons. Taped text books and alternative testing arrangements are examples. People are waking up to the fact that they can request help," said Simmons. He also said that he encourages students to be their own advocate, and to have the gumption" to tell their instructors about their disability and how they can be accommodated. college," said Simmons. Even though learning-disable- d students make it into college, sometimes the challenge of continuing becomes overwhelming. According to Simmons, L.D. students start college but do not many finish. Thereisprobablya 50 percent casualty rate among L.D. students because school is tough for these people," he said. Currently, Simmons is trying to set up a way to accomodate students who need a learning-disabilit- y assessment on campus. In the past, we have had a relationship with the University of Utah and we sent students there to be diagnosed, but since M . they lost their government grant, it now costs about $150 to be tested," said Simmons. Were going to try to get help from student government," he said. If Academic Support is able to set up this accommodation, the cost of testing would be approximately $50 to $100. The cost is well worth it because at that point, they know exactly what they are dealing with," said Simmons. Once they have attend college, but they did not believe that they had a genuine opportunity to succeed. Simmons said that in the last five to Continued from 'Grades' Page 1 adult students with AIDS Benefit for Children 7 MV that complete a degree, are very serious, highly motivated and mature. They make for more The Broadway Stage hosts A Gala of Stars," a benefit for children with AIDS, Friday, Nov. 3. This evening of entertainment features The Saliva Sisters; mime artist, Joe Petti, The Four Strings Quartet, and Fusion Folk-meof the Fusion Production Company. Utah State Fusion Inc., a nonprofit i committed students," said Baar. Id like to believe the faculty are effective, they care that the students learn, and consequently the students are learning," Baar said. My feeling is that were probably not mbers v very different from any other school," said Carolyn Tucker, president of the faculty senate. The senate plans to look at the issue which should come up by the end of the year, according to Tucker. The faculty senate has felt we cant study the grade inflation issue by itself. We want to look at the quality of courses and whether they are at the level they should be, said Tucker. She said that she feels the greater concern is that courses are comparable to other schools, rather than grades. This is a nation wide issue which is larger than Westminster, said Baar. organization providing financial assistance to persons with AIDS, founded the Fusion Production Company to assist in the fundraising efforts of various nonprofit organizations. Tickets may be purchased at the Broadway Stage box office at 272 South Main, or by calling Program begins at 8 p.m. . Westminster President, Charles Dick, ASWC President, Vasi Katsikathas and Ginny Mead, Director of Drugs and Alcohol Prevention and Education stand ready to race against drugs. 140 miles. It will be done in three segments, by Diana Raitt three parts being run at the same time all Forum staff writer to allow coverage of the whole state. with the UCSP logo, Its Free Its hot to not" is the message college to everyone who offered on not" to are are hot Utah across spreading campuses Oct. 26. Westminster College is participates. Almost every president from rts participating in a walk designed to increase awareness of drug abuse. As part of Red Ribbon Week, Oct. the Utah Council of Studentbody Presidents (UCSP), have planned a walk against drugs. Eleven Utah colleges and universities are participating. They are Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley, Weber State, College of Eastern Utah, Dixie College, Snow College, Southern Utah State College, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Westminster. The cross state trek will take one day. Westminster will be receiving the baton in relay from the Univ. of Utah at 8:45 a.m. Westminster is responsible for 25 miles; covering 9400 South and State Street to Lehi. Salt Lake Community College will be in Lehi to continue the race. Its a great way to take pride in our state and school, said Vasi Katsikathas, president of ASWC. Running, walking, and biking are all acceptable. Sharing a mile with a friend or walking together is also possible, Katsikathas said. The walk will cover an area of about . Issue 6 October 24, 1989 22-2- 9, the schools will be running or walking. President Dick, Charles Ehin, dean of the Gore School of Business, and Sonja Chesely from the development office are participating. The radio station 94.9 will be offering support and motivation. Patrol cars will be escorting the runners along Highway 89. ChiefJustice Chris Tucker encourages everybody to sign up. I think its great! A good way for all the colleges and universities to pass along information, it creates a solidarity," Tucker said. This is one ofthe first times Westminster has been actively involved in the UCSP." If anyone is interested in signing up for a mile or more, there will be registration forms available in the ASWC office and the Shaw Center information booth. There is a $2 registration fee. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 26; if students can notify the student council that they intend to participate. Transportation will be provided to 9400 South. Katsikathas suggests getting there a half hoqr early to get organized. 359-144- r y MM, tfAYszs'sWs" y,s '!',' p 4. tysssvw y ' ' ft jobs, trying to ft v, &&''' 7' ft 7 7" "7" 7 ftV'ftm 'ft" WmH WMs is $lh$ mUM I Ellipsis for is searching authors, poets, and artists. Submit your works to Ellipsis co ASWC Westminster College 1840 S. 1300 E. SLC UT 84105 Please include a SASE. Deadline for submission Is i "s' a. , . ft Forum Page 3 |
