Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center

Adult Learning Network Spring 2004: Page 2

Professional Development News

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Contact your Program Advisor at the Adult Education Section or Marsha Taylor at the AALRC for more information on this program. Reimbursement is applicable to courses taken for Adult Education Licensure ONLY! This form and more details are available on the AALRC website. Remember:

The application form must be submitted to the AALRC 10 working days before class begins.
Your class grade and receipt of payment must be received within 30 days of class ending.

There is a new requirement: Applicants must provide documentation that the class will count for adult education licensure.

For a list of courses available in adult education, please contact:

Arkansas State University (Jonesboro)
Dr. David Agnew
(870) 972-3943

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Dr. Buddy Lyle
(479) 575-5119 or
(479) 575-4578

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Dr. Charlotte Robertson
(501) 569-8933

University of Central Arkansas (Conway)
Dr. Sherry Roberts
(501) 450-5431

NOTICE:
If you are unable to attend a workshop you have registered for, please contact the AALRC as soon as possible. Participants are often placed on waiting lists because workshops fill up. If you find that you cannot attend a workshop and you call ahead, this gives us time to notify wait-listed participants that they can attend.

Upcoming Training Events
Event Name	Session	Dates
Arkansas Numeracy Campaign	Session 2	March 9-10
Arkansas Numeracy Campaign	Session 3	April 6-7
Literacy Strategies	Session 3	April 1-2
Literacy Strategies	Session 4	May 6-7
ESL Basics	Session 3	April 22-23
Payne/Jordan	Session 2	April 13-15
	Session 3	May 17-18
	Session 4	October 4
	Session 5	December 6
Learning Disabilities Training & Dissemination	Session 1	March 22-23
Learning Disabilities Training & Dissemination	Session 2	April 19-20

Committee Meetings
Committee Name	Date	Location
Advisory Council	March 25-26	NWACC Rogers
WAGE Advisory Board	April 29, 9:30	AALRC
Advisory Council	May 27-28	Lincoln County Adult Education Star City
LDTD Advisory Committee	March 24, 10:00	AALRC

Developing Policy to Better Serve Adults with Learning Disabilities
The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) Regional Meetings

(Article by Rochelle Kenyon, Ph.D., in the Florida Bridges to Practice Newsletter at http://www.floridatechnet.org/bridges)

With few exceptions, policy to consistently identify and address learning disabilities in the adult population does not currently exist in the United States and its territories. The Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) coordinated with the U.S. Department of Education/ Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services, the U.S. Department of Labor/ Office of Disability & Employment Policy, and the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) to sponsor a series of regional forums on the topic of developing policy to better serve adults with learning disabilities. The forums had the following objectives:

To provide participants with an understanding of the USDOE's goals and objectives related to adults with learning disabilities.
To promote an understanding of Federal laws related to adults with LD and the impact of these efforts on state policy.
To improve the literacy and employment skills of adults with LD through the development of coordinated state policies.
To facilitate the creation of new and innovative partnerships between adult education providers and other state partners to make literacy services more widely available and promote smooth transitions to employment.
To facilitate the development of adult learning disability policy based on high-quality research-based models that equip adults with tools to succeed in the next steps of their education and employment.

Regional forums were held during October 2003. All states and territories were invited to bring team members. [Note from AALRC: The Arkansas team consisted of Jim Case, Director, Arkansas Workforce Centers; Dr. Susan Holt, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services; and Patti White, Disabilities Project Manager, AALRC.] The teams were professionally facilitated with topical experts for presentations and technical assistance.

Issues covered discussion of policy development steps, clarification of federal expectations, and interpretation of disability laws and rules. Content experts focused primarily on strategies and concerns for meeting the needs of adults with LD. Participants brought copies of their state legislation, policy manuals, and procedures related to serving adults with learning disabilities.

DAEL regional teams will be providing technical assistance to help state and territorial teams develop cross-agency policy to better serve adults with LD. States will also be provided with a list of possible screening and assessment tools for review. A draft policy that distinguishes between policies, procedures, and their directives will be distributed as a sample for states to review and consider.

Arkansas is a member of LINCS (Literacy Information aNd Communication Systems) which provides a Regional and National network of electronic support for Adult Education and Literacy. Arkansas is part of the Southern LINCS consortium. Click on the buttons below to search for resources outside of Arkansas.

Funded by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, Adult Education Section

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Professional Development News

Developing Policy to Better Serve Adults with Learning DisabilitiesThe Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) Regional Meetings

Developing Policy to Better Serve Adults with Learning Disabilities
The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) Regional Meetings