specific learning disabilities and the justice system
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Specific Learning Disabilities and the Justice System. Linda Siegel University of British Columbia Vancouver, CANADA [email protected]. Issues. How can we assess learning disabilities in prison populations? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Specific Learning Disabilities and the Justice
System
Linda SiegelUniversity of British Columbia
Vancouver, CANADA
Issues
• How can we assess learning disabilities in prison populations?
• What type of interventions can we provide considering that the target populations are youth and adults?
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Identifying Learning Disabilities Is Important
• Studies all over the world provide evidence that individuals involved with the justice system have significantly higher rates of illiteracy than the population as whole.
• Although less is known about mathematics difficulties in incarcerated populations, there is some evidence of significant difficulties with mathematics for individuals involved with the justice system
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Prison Costs - Canada
• $215,000 per year for each year for each youth in custody
• $70,000 per year – the cost of a special education teacher- 3 special education teachers for $210,000
• Where should we spend the money?– Prisons or– Special Education teachers
Literacy and the Justice System
• Low literacy skills and delinquency are correlated
• Incarcerated youth have lower literacy than non-incarcerated youth
• Recidivism is significalty more likely with youth exiting the justice system with low literacy skills
• Most incarcerated youth do not return to school
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Dyslexia
• Dyslexia = Reading disability
• Difficulty in the speed and accuracy of word reading and spelling– Unlike popular belief, dyslexia does
not mean that a person reverses letters or writes them backwards
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Characteristics Of Dyslexia
DIFFICULTY WITH:
• Recognizing the sounds in speech
• Knowing the sounds of the letters
• Finding the right word
• Grammar
• Memory
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Characteristics Of Dyslexia
Strengths
• Music
• Sports
• Art
• Visual-Spatial Skills
• Mechanical Skills
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Block Rotation
•The student is required to identify which of 2 patterns represent the target that has been rotated in 3D space
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Professions
• Photographer• Architect• Pilot• Mechanic• Air traffic controller
• Carpenter• Engineer• Welder• Designer• Animator
Group Assessment
• Spelling
• Orthographic– Which is the correct spelling – teech or
teach
• Phonological – Which sounds like a real word joak or joap
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Intervention Programs
• Lindamood Bell
• Lexia
• Orton Gillingham
• ABRACADABRA & ePEARL12
Materials for Adults
• Grass Roots Press
– Materials for adults at varying reading levels, even beginning levels
– Biographies of interesting people, even at a grade 2 reading level
– Include material about individuals from different ethnic, racial and cultural groups
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Essentials of Successful Research on these Questions
• Co-operation between the researchers and the justice system officials
• Reliable and targeted assessment• Use of adult oriented remedial programs,
possibly computer based• Use of appropriate non childish materials• Career focused education
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