Services for Students with Leaning Disabilities and AD/HD

Services for Students with Learning Disabilities and AD/HD

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides academic support services to students that can enhance their academic success and enable them to fully engage in the academic and social life of the institution. Students with diagnosed learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder in particular are eligible for an array of academic interventions and support services as determined and deemed appropriate by the professional staff of the ARC. Appraisal of the need for appropriate academic interventions and support services is based on a review of documentation bearing on the functional impact of the disability on the student’s ability to meet the academic expectations of specific courses.

Academic Support Services

The following services are available only to students who have submitted to the ARC clinical documentation of a learning disability and/or attention deficit disorder:

Evaluation of student’s clinical documentation to determine eligibility for academic interventions. (See Procedures and Documentation Guidelines)
Assessment of potential impact of student’s learning impairment in the context of the student’s current course schedule. Assistance in developing an individualized academic support plan based on the outcome of this assessment.
Academic advising consultations to address the special course advising needs of students with learning impairments.
Foreign language learning assessment and support (in collaboration with the foreign language department in which the student chooses to study).
LD/ADHD writing assistance.
ADHD Academic Coaching: Students with ADHD often benefit from coaching services. Coaching is a partnership-based process that is designed to help students to develop the awareness behaviors and concrete practices needed to meet the demands of the undergraduate curriculum and to take advantage of the wide range of living and learning opportunities at Duke.

The following services are available to ALL Duke undergraduates through the Academic Resource Center:

Academic Skills Assessment, based on skills deemed necessary to meet the demands of the Duke undergraduate curriculum.
Learning/Thinking Styles Assessment.
Self-regulated learning and academic skills instruction, based on the skills necessary to meet the demands of the Duke undergraduate curriculum and specific introductory courses.
Peer tutoring services
Additional information about ARC services is available on request.

Requesting Consideration for Reasonable Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)

If you wish to be considered for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (A.D.A.) please contact the DMS-Student Disability Access Office. (See also Procedures for Requesting Academic Interventions)

If you wish to be evaluated to determine your eligibility for academic interventions and/or support services, you may submit clinical assessment documentation directly to the ARC or request that any party in possession of the documentation forward the materials to the ARC on your behalf. Please fill out the Request for ARC Services Form and mail it to:

John H. Blackshear, Ph.D.
211 Academic Advising Center
Box 90694, Duke University
Durham, NC 27708

Students who have submitted documentation to the ARC should schedule an appointment with the clinical director within two weeks of submitting documentation or immediately upon arriving on campus for the academic year.

What sorts of interventions are available?

Procedures for classroom interventions

Student & faculty guide to implementing interventions

Confidentiality and Release of Information

The ARC is committed to ensuring that all information, including information contained in diagnostic and medical reports, but also conferences, discussions, advice, referrals, testing information, testing results, and/or other disability information pertaining to students registered with the ARC or to students suspected of having a disability will be kept strictly confidential. If you have questions regarding confidentiality, please contact the ARC Clinical Director or the Interventions Coordinator at 684-5917.

Any existing information related to a student’s disability, including reports from medical doctors and psychologists, should be forwarded to:

Academic Resource Center
211 Academic Advising Center
Box 90694
Durham, NC 27708

Documentation Guidelines for Students with Learning Disorders

Documentation Guidelines for Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.)

Staff and Contact Information

Telephone: 919-684-5917

ARC Staff:

Donna M. Hall, Director

John H. Blackshear, Ph.D, Clinical Director

Jackie Ariail, Ph.D., Learning Specialist

Ahrash Bissell, Ph.D., Learning Specialist

Russell Colver, Academic/ADHD Coach, Learning Specialist

Francie Sweet, Peer Tutoring Coordinator

Pamela King, Staff Assistant