The Education Issue School-to-Prison Pipeline
Managing Learning Disabilities as an Adult
Pennsylvania Resources
In This Issue The Education Issue August 2021
Letter from the Executive Director
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Word of the month
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Pennsylvania resources
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School to Prison Pipeline
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Managing Learning Disabilities as an adult
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Letter from the Executive Director Although it seems as though I say this for every issue – it was an honor to create this issue. Education has a tremendous influence on whether a person commits a crime or not. If nothing else, it limits your options, particularly if you are from a marginalized community. We wanted to shed a little light on this issue. First, we wanted to address the school to prison pipeline. Although this magazine focuses on adults, there are factors that pushes kids into justice system early on. Without creative problem-solving and disciplinary techniques, the application of reactionary punishment continues to persist – creating a system that harms children of color and those with learning disabilities. Speaking of learning disabilities, our second article focuses on how adults can be diagnosed with learning disabilities. As we learned from the school-to-pipeline article, children with learning disabilities are more often labeled as disruptive, making it easy to fall behind in the education system. There are resources for adults who have learning disabilities. Having access to diagnosis and new learning techniques can create new and valuable opportunities. We hope you enjoy this issue.
Sincerely, Porche Proffit
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Masthead and Contributors Editor-in-Chief, Porsche Proffit Editor, Ericka Foster
Contributors Writer, Maggie Allen Writer, Natalie Rodriguez-Steen
Positive Transitioning Inc. is a non–profit organization that provides information and resources for individuals reentering the community after incarceration. In addition to this magazine, Positive Transitioning Inc. offers a 24-hour Resource/Listening Line that services all 50 states. The Resource/Listening line is staffed by life coaches and provides individuals with the immediate support and resources they may be needed during reentry. Positive Transitioning Inc. also provides individuals life coaches that will assist them in every step of the reentry process: housing, education, employment, vocational training, obtaining government benefits, veteran assistance, medical management, sponsorship, financial stability, family reintegration, and legal assisting. Currently Positive Transitioning Inc. is entirely web–based as we are hoping that this makes it easily accessible for anyone to access from anywhere.
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au·to·di·dact a self-taught person
If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come. – Arapaho Proverb
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Pennsylvania State Resources Ardella’s House ardellashouse.org/services.html Ardella’s House helps women with criminal justice histories by creating successful transition opportunities to women ex-offenders re-entering society and aspiring to make positive contributions to their community. City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program muralarts.org/program/restorative-justice/ Partnering with organizations like Art for Justice and Fair and Justice Prosecution, this program combines art education, personal and professional development, and hands-on assistance for criminal justice reform. I’m FREE (Females Reentering Empowering Each Other) imfreeonline.org I’m FREE provides gender-responsive and trauma-informed services including educational access for employment, work-readiness training, therapeutic counseling as well as life and parenting skills for women reentering society and reconnecting with their families. Impact Service Corporation Re-Entry Programs impactservices.org/ This community service organization provides workforce training and housing assistance for those who are re-entering society. In His Eyes Outreach inhiseyes.org/adltprgs.php In His Eyes Outreach helps women successfully transition from prison, rehabilitation or shelter back to the community. Mon Valley Initiative (MVI) Workforce Development & Financial Coaching Program Re-Entering the Workforce - (monvalleyinitiative.com) MVI provides reentry services for people in southwestern Pennsylvania, primarily Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. The organization provides job search assistance that includes resume creation, benefits application, and financial coaching (which can include credit score building.)
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Out4Good urbanleaguephila.org/what-we-do/workforce-development/for-career-seekers/reentryservices/ Out4Good is a 4-week program from the Urban League of Philadelphia offering job training and employment opportunities, intensive case management, and peer-to-peer supportive services. PHS Roots To Re-Entry phsonline.org Created by PHS and its partners for inmates of the Philadelphia Prison System, this program provides green jobs training as a path to employment in urban agriculture and landscape management enabling them to become productive members of their communities. U Belong u-belong.org/services/ U-Belong ‘s primary focus is to aggressively and systematically reduce recidivism. We approach this by conducting social, economic, vocational, and educational base workshops with the goal of preparing our participants for sustainable employment.
National Resources American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) aclu.org/issues/prisoners-rights Prisoners’ rights to read, write, speak, practice their religion, and communicate with the outside world are often curtailed far beyond what is necessary for institutional security. CareerOneStop careeronestop.org/Site/american-job-center.aspx Located across the country, American Job Centers can help you look for work and offer job search workshops, free computer access, and more. National HIRE Network hirenetwork.org The goal of the National H.I.R.E. Network is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices and public opinion. National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) nrrc.csgjusticecenter.org Funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) is the nation’s primary source of information and guidance in reentry. 6
The School to Prison Pipeline by Ericka Foster The school to prison pipeline describes a series of policies and techniques that hinders the education of young people while funneling them into the criminal justice system. Those policies were designed to be “tough on crime”, but in the end push young people into the criminal justice systems. Those same policies disproportionately affect marginalized groups – children of color (particularly boys), students with disabilities, and members of the LGBT+ communities. While black children made up 16 percent of all enrolled children in 2011-12, according to federal data, they accounted for 31 percent of all in-school arrests. Students with disabilities are also suspended more frequently than students without disabilities. As you can see from the table below, Black and Indigenous children are more likely to receive out-of-school suspension.
US Department of Education To address the fear of more school shootings, zero-tolerance policies and in school police officers were implemented. The Gun-Free Schools Act, passed in 1994, mandated a yearlong out-of-school suspension for any student caught bringing a weapon to school. Those zero tolerance policies send children home for minor infractions. That time spent out of school puts students further behind in their education. When children can’t keep up, they lose interest and can become more disruptive. In a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, they state that suspension and expulsion may make it harder for children to get an education. Without adequate support, “student alienation, delinquency, crime, and substance abuse may ensue.”
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In addition to zero tolerance policies, schools are employing police officers. These aren’t security guards, these are school resource officers (SROs) -- actual police officers that have the authority to make arrests. Although SROs were implemented to prevent Columbine-like shootings, the officers are more likely to make arrests for offenses such as talking back, these arrests give children a direct line into the criminal justice system. Many schools – particularly in lower income communities – suffer from a lack of resources. One of the results of lack of resources if overcrowding, causing administrators to ‘crack down’ on disruptions in an overly crowded classroom. Providing a valuable education with a lack of resources is a real challenge. However, schools across the country are looking for creative ways to maintain discipline – focusing on good discipline instead of easy discipline. Some schools implement Conscious Discipline – trauma informed social and emotional learning -which gives adults techniques to help children feel emotionally safe as well as identify and verbalize their feelings. Other techniques include non-punitive reactions, reflective, and restorative interventions.
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Navigating Adulthood with a Learning Disability By Nat Rodriguez-Steen Learning disabilities are neurological differences in the way the human brain processes, stores and communicates information. Studies estimate that approximately 10% of the world’s population is affected by various learning disabilities such as ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. The earlier learning disabilities are identified and an effective intervention program can be started, the small the learning gap. When the right kind of support and learning strategies are introduced, positive results can be achieved and maintained over the long term. The difficulty arises when learning disabilities are not properly diagnosed or diagnosed later in life. For adults, having an undiagnosed learning disability can affect employment, relationships, psychological and emotional development, and can lead to depression and feelings of low self-worth. These common problems occur in particular when individuals interpret their past educational failures as personal faults and, therefore, feel embarrassment and shame because of a perceived intellectual deficiency. There are various ways for adults to seek out a PDF Fact Sheet- Adult learning disabilities assessment process diagnosis and support. A learning disability assessment is meant to gather relevant FAQ for Adults with Learning Disabilities information about an individual’s areas of PDF Fact Sheet- What employers should strengths and challenges to determine whether or know about learning disabilities not he or she may have a learning disability. Job Accommodation Network Different assessments may not have the same Self-Advocacy in the Work-place: components but in general an assessment will Requesting Job Accommodations include a screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and Disclosing your Learning Disability recommendations. During the screening process, there may be an interview, an informal test, Disability and Criminal Justice Reform career interest questionnaire, or a review of medical, school, or work histories. In a typical evaluation there is a formal test for achievement, intelligence, and processing. If a diagnosis is made, there will most likely be a statement that specifies the results and includes the type of learning disability identified. Lastly, there will be a recommendation about how those with learning disabilities can navigate and proceed in work, school, and daily living. When looking for the right type of assessment for a learning disability, one should look for a qualified professional who can conduct it. This professional should be certified, have experience working with adults who have learning disabilities, have resources about local and state services, and be able to help an adult determine their legal rights and 9
responsibilities, strategies, accommodations, and next steps. The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) outlines a couple sources for finding a qualified professional in your area: •
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State and local LDA chapters: https://ldaamerica.org/support/stateaffiliates/. Community Mental Health Centers Rehabilitation Services Agencies. https://rsa.ed.gov/about/people/stateliaisons Local private psychologist or psychological clinic Local college or university psychology department University-affiliated hospitals and clinics
The downside of assessments is that they can be expensive, ranging between $500 to $2,500 in cost. Some insurance plans will cover assessment costs. Additionally, local mental health clinics and university psychology departments may offer a sliding scale fee for assessments based on financial availability. Vocational rehabilitation agencies may sometimes provide free learning disability assessments for agency applicants who are accepted as new clients. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) also provides learning disability assessments to clientele as part of their services for those who may need it. Learning disabilities and employment can also be a difficult process to navigate. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that provides protections from discrimination in employment and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations mean, “any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions.” The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has collected data that shows more than half of all accommodations cost employers nothing and instead, employers gain financial benefits from providing accommodations. Some common learning disability accommodations include: allowing the use of a voice-activated recorder to record verbal instructions, provide checklists for tasks, allow the use of a calculator, allow employees to organize their space, and providing additional training.
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List of Questions to Ask a Qualified Professional:
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Have you tested many adults with learning disabilities before?
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How much will the assessment cost, and what does the cost cover?
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Can insurance cover the costs?
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Are there other funding sources?
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Can you provide a payment plan?
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How long will the assessment take?
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What will be involved in the assessment?
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Who will have access to the assessment results?
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Will there be a written report of the assessment?
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Will you explain the written report to me?
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Will the assessment give me more information about why I am having trouble
with my job, school, or daily life? •
Will you give me ideas about accommodations for my disability?
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Will you give me information about how to self-advocate for my disability at
school or work? •
Will the report make recommendations about where I can go for further help?
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