program brings hope to learning disabled students

For over twenty years, Marshall University's H.E.L.P program has encouraged scores of learning disabled students to succeed and not give up the dream of going to college.

It will now be coming to Van Jr./Sr. High School as part of their Community H.E.L.P program.

"H.E.L.P stands for Higher Education for Learning Problems," said Michelle Howard, a special education teacher at the school and member of Friends of Marshall Alumni Organization.

On Tuesday, October 31, Marshall's H.E.L.P program made a presentation to the special education students at Van.

Lynne Weston, Director of H.E.L.P and Heather Kuhn, a graduate student, presented information about the program at Marshall.

"Ms. Weston explained to students that the H.E.L.P program is available to the students at the community college and at the university," Howard said.

Weston also discussed with the students what types of services they offer at Marshall for learning disabled students.

Kuhn, who is a product of the H.E.L.P program and a learning disabled student shared her story with the students about being an LD student on campus.

Available in only a few areas nationwide, H.E.L.P students go to high schools and middle schools throughout West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, tutoring, mentoring and teaching, by example, that learning disabled students can go on and attend college successfully.

"In the first year of the program, two Graduate Assistants (G.A.’s) tutored 3 dyslexic students," Howard explained. "The program has grown steadily in size and reputation until now there are 200 LD students, 40 Graduate Assistants, 15 remediation tutors along with the director, assistant director, and 10 other staff members."

The program was created by Dr. Barbara Guyer, an Associate Professor of Education at Marshall and a specialist in learning disabilities.

"Learning disability is an umbrella term used to categorize people with normal to superior intelligence whose academic performance is below their abilities," Howard explained.

Disabilities associated with LD include dyslexia, problems with concentration and a lack of ability to organize one's activities.

Before entering college, a student with learning disabilities can sign up for the program and will get help throughout their college life with everything from test taking, tutoring and therapy to combat depression resulting from frustration.

Marshall students in the H.E.L.P program, many who have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD and Dyslexia, reach out to students in the younger generation to show that they too can go to college and be successful.

Community H.E.L.P is a branch of the program that started in 1999, whereby Marshall students who are trained in learning disabilities go out to schools in the surrounding areas to help students experiencing difficulties due to learning disabilities or ADD/ADHD.

"The tutors in Community H.E.L.P. work with students to develop and

improve their skills in Reading, Spelling, Reading Comprehension, Written Expression, Basic Math Skills, Test-Taking Strategies, Learning Techniques, Memory Strategies, Organizational Skills, and Self-Esteem," she said.

Community H.E.L.P. exists to provide assistance for students, ages six to 18, who have been diagnosed as having dyslexia or other learning disabilities.

"The students must have a diagnosis of LD or ADD/ADHD to qualify for the program," Howard said.

With the program, students progress as fast as they can and as slow as they need to. The emphasis is on skills mastery and understanding, not rote memorization.

"LD and ADD/HD students can learn when taught appropriately," she added. "All tutors in the Community H.E.L.P. program believe that learning can and should be fun."

Forms for student information and a questionnaire for parents are available online at the Marshall website or at Van Jr./Sr. High School.

The cost of the program is $30 per hour-long session, with students generally needing two to three sessions a week, according to program literature. Initial intake testing costs $150.

Intake is required to help develop an individualized plan for each student.

Following the program on Oct. 31, the two women were presented with school t-shirts and Friends of Marshall t-shirts from the BCFOM.

The organization also sponsored refreshments.