What is a learning disability?
Faculty Referral Information
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Learning Disabilities Program
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The Learning Disabilities Program provides services for students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities and meet the criteria for eligibility established by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. The college and instructors are required to provide accommodations for these students. The Learning Disabilities Program is required, among other things, to facilitate this process.
The SMC Learning Disability Program offers 4 eight-week assessment workshops each semester.
Space in these workshops is very limited and is intended for students who demonstrate characteristics consistent with a learning disabled profile (as opposed to educational disadvantage, emotional/psychological disturbance, physical disabilities or limited ability.)
The following characteristics may be indicative of a learning disability:
- Consistent difficulty meeting class requirements even though attendance, m motivation, and effort are apparent.
- Inability to achieve, even though the student appears to possess adequate student habits.
- Evidence of some degree of content mastery (uneven test performance, ability to discuss topic, class participation, etc.)
- Inability to perform even though the student demonstrates success in other academic areas.
- Student reports past history of diagnosed learning disabilities.
The student can be referred to the LD program, and may attend one of our frequent Orientation Sessions. Students and instructors should be aware that the assessment process is rather intense and requires a 16 hour/8 week commitment.
Please remember that there are many reasons why students have difficulty in college. There are many academic and psychological support services on campus. The College Handbook is a good resource for accessing these excellent services.
For those students who appear to have other disabling conditions that are interfering with their academic performance, we ask that you refer them to disabled Students Program and Services, PE 166, Ext 4265.
For more
information: Learning
Disabilities Checklist
What is a Learning Disability?
Enhancing Learning for LD Students
(Without Compromising Standards)