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News

CAPS: disability tests on the rise

Increasing number of students are seeking testing and assistance for learning disabilities and ADHD 

by KIM THAI
The Daily Cougar

UH Counseling and Psychological Services said assessments for learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have risen 38 percent in the past year. 

The main cause is because the overall stigma related to the disabilities has lessened and awareness has been heightened on both a national and campus level, CAPS Director Ken Waldman said. 

These figures are mainly initial assessments as only 5 to 10 percent of the increase includes renewals. Overall testing has increased dramatically in the past four years, and in Fall 2006 alone CAPS tested 26 students, which is almost equivalent to 2003's entire testing year, CAPS reported. 

Dr. Lisa Mancuso, CAPS psychologist, said that these results are from more stringent requirements from the medical community and universities but said the increase can be viewed both positively and negatively.

"We're seeing an increase across the board in all counseling centers," Mancuso said. "Developmentally, students don't really start struggling with these issues until they start going to college. Their coping mechanisms are not suited for college. 

"I think it's positive that students are taking a proactive stance. Students are like, ‘Hey, I'm willing to ask for help and figure out what this problem is and fix it.' But I can also see from a student perspective how this can be frustrating with the continual testing and expenses."

Another factor to the increase is that CAPS' existence has been established more because of a series of psychological seminars held in the University Center, participating in freshman orientation, and having outreach programs with campus organizations, Waldman said. 

Although questions have been raised about CAPS' testing cost, Waldman said, its services have been utilized more because private testing can cost five times more than CAPS. 

At CAPS, one test is $250 and the cost for both the learning disability and ADHD tests are $400. From there, a student is put through multiple rounds of testing to accurately diagnose whether a learning disability exists and if so, then in what categories, Waldman said. 

After a student's learning disabilities are identified, CAPS refers them to its counseling and Center for Students with Disabilities, where the students have to register to utilize its free accommodations — all of which are modified according to each student's area of difficulty. 

"(Accommodation) is not a cookbook. It depends on the student. We welcome and encourage students to use our services, computers and facilities, but every student is different. We just leave the choice up to them. It's really their choice — whatever they like," CSD Director Cheryl Amoruso said. 

Often students will seek counseling, which has also increased, because they feel as though their intelligence is not up to par, and this can hinder them from taking advantage of the free testing accommodations or the recommended learning strategies, Waldman said. 

Mancuso said that she encourages all students who are tested to talk to a counselor so that they realize that there is nothing shameful about having a learning disability, and that they should not let it lead them into depression. 

"I think it takes a lot of courage to come over here. The truth is, many millions of Americans suffer from learning disabilities and ADHD. I try to normalize the struggle. There are a lot of people out there, it's not just you," Mancuso said. "Students come in here and feel dumb. ‘Why can't I make it? I have to work harder than everyone. Why am I not successful when my friends are?' This isn't about you being dumb. This is about a discrepancy between (intelligence) and achievement. If you're IQ is way up here and you're achieving down here, something's not right. What typically explains that discrepancy is a learning disability or attention deficit disorder. We want to make that equal and that's where the accommodations come in." 

Lucia Guillory, a psychology junior, had been categorized with ADHD, visual perceptive difficulties and mild dyslexia since she was in elementary school and said that CSD is "awesome" and that the understanding from UH professors has been wonderful.

Guillory said that she does not let the stigma surrounding ADHD affect her and that although it has lessened to "a degree," improved tolerance and education on both subjects are still needed.

"I feel like the general population has been rather unsympathetic. A lot of students see me and know that I have a 4.0 GPA," Guillory said. "They think that because of (my GPA) I don't need any modifications because I'm doing so well. People assume that these modifications are not necessary when in fact I know that they are. They don't see all the time I spend studying. I study literally all the time — that's all I do. When I realized that I had a learning disability, I've committed myself to be the best student I can be. 

"That's been my complete drive. I feel as though the best thing I can do is work hard and prove myself as an excellent student. Anyone who wants to tell me that I'm not as smart as another student (is) going to be proven wrong when they see how well I do in school and how I commit myself to the projects I undertake. I think a lot of people who have (a learning disability) are afraid that someone is going to think that they are less capable than the other students, which isn't the case. We really need to work as hard — if not harder than other students — because we want everyone to know that we're smart, too." 

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