Specific Learning Disabilities and the Justice System

1. Specific Learning Disabilities and the Justice System Linda Siegel University of British Columbia Vancouver, CANADA linda.siegel@ubc.ca

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Characteristics Of Dyslexia DIFFICULTY WITH: • Recognizing the sounds in speech • Knowing the sounds of the letters • Finding the right word • Grammar • Memory

8. Characteristics Of Dyslexia Strengths • Music • Sports • Art • Visual-Spatial Skills • Mechanical Skills

9. Block Rotation • The student is required to identify which of 2 patterns represent the target that has been rotated in 3D space

10. Photographer Architect Pilot Mechanic Air traffic controller Carpenter Engineer Welder Designer Animator Professions

11. Group Assessment • Spelling • Orthographic • Which is the correct spelling – teech or teach • Phonological • Which sounds like a real word joak or joap

12. Intervention Programs • Lindamood Bell • Lexia • Orton Gillingham • ABRACADABRA & ePEARL

13. 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

14. 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