A learning disability diagnosis is often a turning point in a student’s academic journey. For parents of school-age children in Prince Edward Island, the insights gained from testing and evaluation provide an actionable roadmap for academic success.
When a student completes a psychoeducational assessment in PEI, they receive a final report that outlines diagnoses or underlying causes of poor school performance or academic underachievement. Assessment providers can use these results to offer referrals to inclusive education services and/or recommendations for classroom supports that target specific learning needs.
This guide explores five evidence-based practices that families and educators can implement after an assessment to support students diagnosed with a learning disability.
Multi-Sensory Instruction
Students with a learning disability or neurodivergence often process information differently, so relying solely on spoken instructions can lead to academic difficulties. After an assessment, families may use their report to access curriculum modifications, such as:
- Visual Instruction: Visual schedules and graphic organizers to reinforce written and verbal directions.
- Multi-Sensory Instruction: Auditory lessons combined with hands-on learning, tactile activities, or visual media to strengthen retention, attention, focus, and productivity.
Breaking Down Complex Tasks
Many academic struggles stem from challenges with executive function, which is common in ADHD, autism, and related conditions. When faced with large assignments, children and youth can easily become overwhelmed. Learning assessments allow students to access accommodations like:
- Chunking Assignments: Breaking down multi-step projects into smaller, structured tasks with checkpoints.
- Step-by-Step Guidance: Checklists or one-on-one instruction to help students track their own progress.
Assistive Technology
A formal report from a registered psychologist also helps students access specialized assistive technologies, which bridge learning gaps and make the curriculum far more accessible.
- Digital Support Tools: Text-to-speech software, speech-to-text tools, or digital graphic organizers to assist with reading, writing, and language tasks.
- Flexible Assessments: Allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge through alternative methods, such as digital presentations and audio recordings.
Optimizing Environmental Conditions
Busy classroom environments can present significant challenges for students who experience attention or sensory difficulties. With a learning assessment report, students can receive environmental accommodations that support their focus and academic success, including:
- Strategic Seating: Positioning the student near the front of the room or close to the teacher, away from high-traffic distractions like doors or windows.
- Focus Tools: Allow the use of noise-reducing headphones during independent work, or provide flexible seating options that support physical movement without disrupting peers.
Supporting Emotional and Behavioural Regulation
Certain learning disabilities can impact a student’s mental health, leading to anxiety, frustration, or emotional dysregulation in the classroom. An assessment report can provide access to:
- Safe Break Spaces: A designated, quiet space in the classroom where students can briefly step away to regulate their emotions when feeling overwhelmed.
- Predictable Routines: Clear routines and advance notice before transitions, helping students feel secure and supported throughout the school day.
Unlocking Educational Support with Edcommodate
Collaboration with support teams, including teachers, parents, school psychology services, and/or counsellors and social workers, is essential for turning psychological assessments into classroom support.
Edcommodate provides accessible assessment services, including autism diagnostic assessments, across Atlantic Canada (PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
In PEI, we offer online psychoeducational assessments for children, youth, and adults. Led by experienced psychologists, our virtual assessments eliminate the long waitlist often associated with traditional in-person testing. Following an intake interview, dedicated assessment sessions, and a detailed feedback meeting, our comprehensive report provides the exact direction needed to unlock these classroom supports. The report can also be used to access other therapeutic supports, when indicated, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or occupational therapy services.