Together, we are a multidisciplinary team gathered together with a responsibility to identify whether or not a

learning disability is present in a student named Christian, and if it has a negative impact on his educational
performance.

Christian is a young boy in elementary school who has been repeatedly noticed to have
significant issues when it comes to reading. He has a difficult time making a connection
between different letters and the sounds they stand for. He cannot sound out words,
and he is becoming increasingly behind in school compared to his peers.

IDEA 2004- Outlined 3 criteria which we must follow if we are to help Christian
become eligible for services.

1. Traditional Approach to Assessment for Learning Disabilities

What picture can we paint of his learning disability?

a) Formal Assessments

b) Classroom (Informal Assessments)

i. Curriculum-based
ii. Portfolio
iii. Observation

c) Criteria for Eligibility- Now that the data has been collected, we must meet together as a team.

i. Does a significant gap exist between the student’s ability and academic achievement?
ii. Is the learning problem the result of a disorder in an area of basic psychological
processing involved in understanding language?
iii. Can other possible causes of the learning problem be eliminated?

2. RTI for Identifying Students Who Have Learning Disabilities

a) Three-Tiered Models in Response to Intervention

i. Tier 1: Schoolwide Interventions
ii. Tier 2: Targeted Group Interventions
iii. Tier 3: Intensive, Individual Interventions

b) Criteria For Eligibility: Is the student “nonresponsive” to intervention?

3. Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses

How would we assess Christian using patterns of strengths and weaknesses?

a) Across Academic Area

b) Within Academic Area