Learning Disability Assessments - TAFDC
DTA offers learning disability screenings and assessments at no cost to TAFDC recipients who believe they may have a challenge in the way they learn or may have:
- difficulty at work or school that prevents them from reaching their career and/or educational goals,
- significant problems in daily life (e.g., relationships, managing finances, decision-making), or
- a desire to know why they have always struggled to learn and remember information.
A Learning Disability Screening will gather relevant information about the client’s areas of strengths and challenges to assess learning style and how it relates to the client’s abilities at work or in school. By completing the Learning Disability Screening, the client may be eligible to complete a full evaluation with DTA’s partner, forHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School (forHealth). ForHealth’s Disability Determination Services (DES) will complete the assessment. Through the evaluation, the client can obtain the information and documentation to formally request accommodations at work or in school, and to determine effective strategies for learning and living based on their areas of strengths.
The Learning Disability Screening must be offered when:
- applications are made,
- eligibility reviews are conducted,
- Pathways to Work Plans are created or updated, and
- extension plans and/or agreements are developed.
When a Learning Disability Screening is requested, you must, complete the Learning Disability Screening in BEACON. This can take place in whatever method you are using to conduct business with the client. You are free to make referrals for Learning Disability Screenings at any time while working with a TAFDC client. You must review the Learning Disability page in the Program Administration workflow to determine if the client has previously completed a screening. If the client already has been determined to have a learning disability, do not request another screening.
Once the Learning Disability Screening is completed, the Learning Disability Evaluation Referral can be generated in the Learning Disability Window. The case manager must send an email to: DESLDReferrals@umassmed.edu and attach the Learning Disability Evaluation Referral form as a PDF file. To do this, you must print the referral and select: save as a PDF file. Please note that the client does not need to be mailed any documentation as this will be handled by DES. The case manager must complete a detailed narrative indicating the client has agreed to complete the full Learning Disability Evaluation with DES.
Note: If a client’s score does not meet the criteria to be assessed by DES, but they still request an assessment, the Learning Disability Evaluation Referral form must be forwarded to the DES representative for evaluation.
No other documentation is to be sent to the appointed DES representative.
DTA Responsibilities
DTA’s DES Liaison, FEW and/or SSS must ensure that the client is supported in connecting with DES to have the assessment completed, that appointment follow-up and the outcome are tracked and that the results are discussed with the client upon completion.
A client may be encouraged to:
- consider the assessment results to help them with their own goal setting around education and employment goals, and what supports they may need,
- share the results of a Learning Disability Assessment with an employment and training provider, and
- connect with Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) for additional support if a learning disability exists.
Important: A client who has been referred to ForHealth for a Learning Disability Assessment must have their Work Requirements compliance reason updated to Learning Disability Assessment.
Last Update: February 15, 2024