Request for AALRC Funding for WAIS-IV Evaluation form

Learning Disabilities Diagnosis Referral Process for GED Accommodations

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard administrations of the regular print GED Tests. In such cases, accommodations to standard testing may be arranged for students with documented disabilities: physical, emotional/mental, ADHD or learning. There is an accommodation request procedure and certifying form, which must be processed before a request may be granted. This form is available from all Arkansas GED Examiners. For more information about GED accommodations, go to http://ace.arkansas.gov/adultEducation/programs/GED/Pages/default.aspx. To download a copy of the form, click here

If a student requires new or updated documentation of a learning disability, the AALRC Disabilities Project Manager can assist local programs in making an appropriate referral for diagnosis. There are several options available, and each case will be considered on an individual basis based on specific student information:

If the student has existing documentation of a learning disability that has been completed within the last five (5) years, the local program can request a copy of the documentation from the school or clinic that completed the diagnosis. The request must be made in writing, preferably using a Release of Confidential Information form printed on the program's letterhead paper. A sample release form may be copied for program use from the LD Policy Manual at http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/policyManual/appendixC.pdf.

If the student has NO existing documentation of a learning disability, and if the student DOES NOT have a job, the local program should refer the student to the local Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) agency program to determine eligibility for services. The purpose of ARS is to help people with disabilities become employed and the LD diagnosis is part of their intake process. However, if the student has no desire to get a job, please do not refer them to ARS.
The Commissioner of ARS has authorized the referral of adult education and literacy students to ARS for diagnosis of learning disabilities. For students who are working towards getting their GED diploma, the diagnosis will include the WAIS-IV test, required by the national GED Testing Service in Washington DC to request accommodations for a learning disability.

Students who are referred to ARS MUST:

When the student is referred to ARS, they must take the following to their initial meeting with the ARS counselor:

This authorization is the result of increased collaboration between adult education and literacy programs and ARS, and represents an enormous system change for Arkansas service providers.

If the student DOES HAVE a job, and DOES HAVE financial resources to pay for diagnosis, then the program may assist the student in choosing a clinic or private psychologist to conduct the LD evaluation. The average cost of an LD diagnosis is $500-$800. Many students who are employed will have insurance that covers all or most of this cost, but they may not be aware of that coverage prior to investigation. Local mental health councils will conduct LD diagnosis on a sliding scale, which may make it affordable for many students with limited financial resources.  Universities with graduate programs in clinical psychology may also provide LD diagnosis on a sliding scale. 

If the student DOES HAVE a job, but HAS NO financial resources to pay for diagnosis, the Arkansas Department of Career Education, Adult Education Division, has authorized a limited amount of funding for the AALRC to pay contracted clinics and psychologists to conduct the WAIS-IV tests. The AALRC has contracted with a number of psychological testing centers to provide WAIS-IV testing for students who are working towards a GED and need to request accommodations on the GED test for a specific learning disability. These contracts are only for students who have no existing, current diagnosis; no existing resources to pay for diagnosis; and whose goal is to get their GED diploma.

The contracts are designed to facilitate the process of learning disabilities diagnosis for students who are undiagnosed, but at some point in the screening process, demonstrate a high probability of the existence of a learning disability. Payment will be made by the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center (AALRC) directly to the diagnostician.

If the student has insurance or any other resources that would pay for the testing, that student is not eligible for testing under this contractual arrangement. Only students with no available resources will be eligible to have their testing paid by the AALRC. This agreement applies only to those students whose goal is to get a GED.  Unemployed students should still be referred to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services whenever possible.

There are two types of tests required to request accommodations for learning disabilities for the GED: (1) a measurement of academic achievement, and (2) a measurement of potential or intelligence.  The referral process for testing in Arkansas includes the Woodcock Johnson-III (WJ-III) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS-IV). Janice Hanlon, State GED Administrator, coordinates a group of GED Examiners and adult education instructors to administer the WJ-III for students who are working towards a GED and will be referred for a learning disabilities diagnosis. Please contact the certified professional nearest your center to arrange for him or her to conduct the WJ-III with your student BEFORE you refer the student for the WAIS-IV. There is no cost to your program or student for this testing, although your program will be required to pay for the examiner's travel.

Contact one of the following individuals to administer the Woodcock Johnson Achievement Test Part III, Section C on L-15. The school requesting the test must pay the travel expenses for the tester. Call Patti White, Disabilities Coordinator, at 1-800-569-3539 to arrange for Intelligence testing (Section Three) on the Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities request form.

(Updated 11/11)

To re-cap, if you have a student who may have a learning disability and needs to be referred for diagnosis, and if that student's goal is to get a GED and has no existing resources to pay for the WAIS-IV, please complete the following steps:

Contracted Psychological Testing Centers for WAIS-IV Testing
City	Test Center	Contact Info
Arkadelphia	Arkansas Counseling and Psychodiagnostics, Inc. 2607 Caddo St. Suite 6 Arkadelphia, AR	Contact: Charlie Weiner Phone: 870.230.8217 E-mail (work): WEINERC@hsu.edu
Benton	Counseling Clinic 307 E. Sevier Benton, AR 72015	Contact: Jim Gregory Phone: 501.315.4224 Fax: 501.776.0411 Email: jgregory@cc-inc.org
Bentonville	NW AR Behavior Therapy Clinic 2717 SE "I" Street, Suite 1 Bentonville, AR  72712	Contact: Donna M. Van Kirk, Ed.D. Phone: 479.271.6103 Fax: 479.271.6109 E-mail: d_van_kirk@yahoo.com Website:www.betherap.com
Clarksville	Julia Frost Dody Pelts University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR  72830	Contact: Julia Frost Phone:   479.979.1401       E-mail: jfrost@ozarks.edu Contact: Dody Pelts Phone:  479.979.1401       E-mail: dpelts@ozarks.edu
Conway	Conway Psychological Assessment Center 1210 Hogan Lane, Suite 200 Conway, AR 72034	Contact: Dr. Kim Dielmann Phone: 501.932.0255 E-mail:dielmann@conwaypsychtesting.com
El Dorado	South Arkansas Regional Health Center 715 North College Ave. El Dorado, AR 71730	Contact: Regina Pierce Phone: 870.862.7921 Fax: 870.864.7003 E-mail: pbrasher@sarhc.org
Harrison	Dr. Byron Dickinson 19234 North Bass Lane Lead Hill, AR  72644	Contact: Dr. Byron Dickinson Phone:  830-928-0822       E-Mail: dr.byron@doctor.com
Jonesboro	Mid-South Health Systems 2707 Browns Lane Jonesboro, AR 72401	Contact: Bonnie White Phone: 870.972.4000 Fax: 870.972.4968 E-mail: bwhite@mshs.org
Little Rock	Professional Counseling Associates 650 South Shackleford Rd., Suite 217 PO Box 24210 Little Rock, AR 72211	Contact: Jannie Cotton Phone: 501.221.1843 Fax: 501.221.2376 E-mail: jannie.cotton@pca-ar.org
Monticello	Dr. Charles Spellmann 10498 Loomis Landing DeValls Bluff, AR 72041	Contact: Dr. Charles Spellmann Phone: 870.692.8315 E-mail: vicknanny@yahoo.com
Texarkana	Southwest Arkansas Counseling & MHC 2904 Ark Blvd. PO Box 1987 Texarkana, AR 75504	Contact: Dr. Dwight Sperry Phone: 870.773.4655 Fax: 870.773.4655 E-mail:triggman@aol.com
West Memphis	712 Calvin Avery Dr., Suite D West Memphis, AR 72301	Contact: Angelyn Sherrod, MS, LPE Phone: 901.286.2145 Email: kiayaphd@yahoo.com

Counties Served by Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas and Mid-South Health Systems

Organization	Counties	Contact Info
Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas	Crittenden County Cross County Lee County Monroe County Phillips County St. Francis County	Contact: Roland Irwin, Ph.D. Clinical Services Director Phone: 870.630.9129 Fax: 870.630.1128 E-mail: rirwin@mshs.org
Mid-South Health Systems	Clay County Craighead County Greene County Lawrence County Mississippi County Poinsett County Randolph County	Contact: Frankie Hogue, Ph.D. Clinical Services Director Phone: 870.972.4000 Fax: 870.972.4968 E-mail: fhogue@mshs.org