The LD assessment process provides students with an opportunity to discover their cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses while also determining eligibility for services with the EAC department, if any. An LD Specialist will interpret the assessment results and make individual recommendations on how to improve learning, study strategies, and utilize accommodations, if any.
There is no cost for the LD assessment, however, students must be currently enrolled and taking classes at Ventura College.
The following is an example of what is involved in the LD Assessment process.
- Intake Screening - The student meets with the LD Specialist and provides information about student's current difficulties and academic challenges, personal/educational history, goals, past difficulties, etc.
- Measured Achievement – The LD Specialist will administer a variety of standardized academic assessments designed to identify students’ areas of strengths and weaknesses.
- Ability Level – The LD Specialist will evaluate the student’s cognitive abilities using standardized assessment tools to determine the student's potential for success in general at the community college level.
- Processing Deficit – The LD Specialist will evaluate the student's weaknesses in acquiring, integrating, storing, retrieving, and/or expressing information.
- Aptitude-Achievement Discrepancy – The assessments help the LD Specialist to determine if there are areas where the student's achievement is significantly less than that of their peers with the same ability level.
Test results are compared to guidelines provided by the State of California, in accordance with federal mandates, to determine whether a student qualifies for ongoing support services as a student with learning disabilities.
To qualify under Learning Disability, students must demonstrate:
- Average to above-average intelligence
- Severe processing deficit
- Severe aptitude-achievement discrepancy
- Measured academic achievement
- Functional limitations
