Disability Services and UDL
Renton Technical College students are the beneficiaries of a grant from the
Department of Education's
Demonstration Projects to Ensure Students with Learning Disabilities Receive A
Quality Higher Education. In late 2002, RTC received a three year grant
from the Department of Education to help provide support to students with
undiagnosed learning disabilities. In 2005, an additional three
years were granted to expand the project activities to include help
to all students with disabilities and to other community and
technical colleges in Washington State.
Currently, 25 instructional programs and 4 staff departments,
including 3 off-campus sites are using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to help
students be more successful in college.
Instructors in the Pilot classrooms implement teaching strategies which have
been shown to be effective in helping students with learning disabilities.
Using the UDL paradigm, these strategies are offered to the entire class right
from the beginning of the quarter, which speeds up help to those who need it.
Assistive technology plays an important role in helping students with learning
challenges succeed. Using UDL, Renton Technical College has provided
assistive technologies to students in the Pilot programs as well as
made them available to all students who use the Technology Resource Center 's
Open Lab, Success Center or Library.
Some of the technologies allow books and materials to be read aloud to
students, enlarge text and screen images, provide graphic display of text and
use voice recognition. There are also large screen monitors, special keyboards
and adjustable workstations. In the classroom, the grant has promoted the use
of interactive whiteboards and LCD projectors which increase accessibility to
visual materials for students.
One of the most innovative features of the project has been the creation of a
unique Student Learning Assessment System which helps both students and
instructors identify learning challenges and provide assistance directly in the
classroom. This system allows students to understand and take charge of their
learning strengths and weaknesses, and gives suggestions for research-based
strategies that may help with their specific learning concerns. For students
with severe learning impairments and limited resources, the grant provides more
intensive assistance, including diagnostic testing and reports.
Students with disabilities who need assistance should contact the
Special Needs Office .
For more information on the grant, contact Cathy Jenner , Project Coordinator in
Instructional Improvement at 425-235-2352 x 5639 or
cjenner@RTC.edu or Cheryl Culwell at 425-235-2352 x5639
or cculwell@RTC.edu
P333A050032-06 is funded at 100% by the U.S. Department of
Education, Office of PostSecondary Education, DPESWDRQHE for the
period of 10/02-9/08. Total funding is $1,864,115.
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