Recommendations for Referrals

Helping a struggling student to get connected to help can feel like an intimidating process to start. The Educational Access Center strives to destigmatize the need for support and increase access to support and resources. If you have a student whom you feel may benefit from EAC services, here are some ideas to keep in mind:

It is not recommended that you ask the student if he or she has a disability. This might put the student on the spot and make them feel uncomfortable.
Ask the student about their learning history. What kind of classes have they excelled in and what classes have been challenging? In high school, did they use any resources or supports that they found helpful. This question might elicit information about a history of special education. If the student was in special education in the past, he or she might mention that they were on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 plan. If they mention this, you can come from an informational approach and say "I'm not sure if you know this, but we have an office on campus that offers support to students in much the same way that your IEP did. " At that point, you can share our contact information or ask the student if he or she is comfortable connecting them with us electronically.
As you have conversations about the student's current challenges, it can be helpful to consider the EAC as just one of many amazing resources that Skyline has to offer. Some other resources to include are The Learning Center, Career Counseling, Personal Counseling, Peer Mentoring, and SparkPoint.
It can also be helpful for you to be "real" with your students about your own learning history. If you've had areas that you struggled in or support services that you know were helpful, this can definitely help to destigmatize and break down barriers.
It is important to know and help the student know that it is ok to not have all the answers before seeking out help. Part of the role of the Learning Disability Specialist is to help students figure out what might be getting in the way of their learning.
If you are unsure about having the referral conversation and would like to consult, the EAC counseling faculty would be happy to consult with you on an individual basis! To request a consultation, please use our Instructor Interest Form here.
If you'd like to have EAC staff make an announcement in your class, we would also be happy to share information with your entire class at once. Please find our Instructor Interest Form here.
Once you have spoken with your student, feel free to create a virtual introduction by connecting us with them on email.