THE INFORMER PAGE 6 MARCH 31, 1992 Notes College Fitness Classes for Summer In response to employee demand, the College employee fitness program will continue to provide aerobic fitness classes, fitness testing, personal fitness consultations, and health work- shops during the summer. Fitness classes will begin Mon., March 30. The schedule will be: Mon., Wed., Fri. 12:45 - 1:30 p.m. Tues. Thurs. 5 - 6 p.m. Registration begins immediately at the Sportsplex. Call Jennifer Lidster at loc. 2737 for more information. Self-Defence Workshop The employee fitness program is offering a free self-defence workshop to all College employees Thursday, April 2, 12:30 - 1:15 at the Sportsplex. The focus will be prevention and aware- ness. Holly Turner, a course conductor for the North Van Recreation Commission and RCMP representative will lead the workshop. R.S.V.P. to Jennifer Lidster at loc. 2737. Space is limited. Non-Attendance at Personnel-sponsored Courses There have been so many “no-shows” for training courses lately, that the Personnel department is taking action. Manager of Personnel Services Cindy Rogers says that a recent WordPer- fect training session was attended by only eight out of 18 registrants. Because non-attendance affects the quality and cost of training, the Personnel department has decided to “encourage greater commitment to attendance” by applying the following tule: “Tf an employee is unable to attend the course without giving sufficient notice to Extension Services, the department will be billed $100 to recover the course cost.” Cindy adds that alternates may attend without charge. Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair Science fairs give students the opportunity to exhibit the results of their creativity, skill, and ingenuity, says Stan Green- spoon (Physics). He and Nancy Ricker (Biology) are on the organizing committee of the regional fair to be held April 9 - 11 at BCIT. Students from Grades 6 through 12 will display their projects for public viewing and judging. The winners will go on to the Canada-wide Science Fair in Sudbury later this year. Cap has contributed its support to the fair for several years. Faculty have served as judges, and the Pure and Applied Sciences Division offers a $400 tuition scholarship prize. Adults and children are invited to attend from 10 to 1:45 p.m. in the gymna- sium at BCIT. “This is your opportunity to meet the scientists of the 21st century,” says Stan. Learning Disabled Adults in Post Secondary Education A learning disability is a hidden handicap. Unlike the person who uses sign language or walks with crutches, the learning disabled person shows no visible disabil- ity. The casual observer fails to realize that difficulties in processing information can cause the learning disabled person to react differently from others in learning and living situations. Learning disability (LD) refers to perceptual handicaps (how a person retrieves and receives information). LD is pre- sumed present at birth or from early childhood due to causes other than impaired vision, hearing or mobility; mental retarda- tion; emotional disturbances; or environmental disadvantage. Yet, identification and testing for learning disabilities is difficult, even among professionals. Recent research from the National Institute of Health suggests, because of the variety of tests and testing conditions used to diagnose LD, discrepancies between ability and achieve- ment may no longer be the most valid indicator of a learning disability. Instead, it has been suggested that the most significant factor in a diagnosis, and in preparing an educational plan, is that everyone working with the individual agrees that a learning disability is present. Still, the incidence of LD appears to be increasing. In the USS. in 1984, one per cent of college students reported they were learning disabled. By 1990 the number increased to 2.3 per cent. The reasons for the increase include improved identification of children who are learning disabled, provision of LD-appropri- ate education in elementary and secondary schools, the “coming of age” of those who received the necessary educational support services, and a growing awareness in post-secondary institutions that accommodating these students helps them succeed in college programs and beyond. Post-secondary systems will continue to be asked to enrol and accommodate learning disabled students. At Capilano College, faculty who suspect a student has LD should consult with College specialists to document the problem and to jointly plan accommodation strategies. Help is available. For further information and faculty contacts, please call the Office of Special Education Access services at loc. 2701. — Adapted with permission from an article in the Health Resource Centre Newsletter and submitted by Jolene Bordewick Learning Disabilities Conference The theme “Striving for Excellence,” generated at the 29th Annual Learning Disabilities of America Conference held in Atlanta Georgia recently, will become the watchword for the organization, reports Jolene Bordewick. There will be a first conference on learning disabilities at the college level June 12 and 13 at the University of Colorado, in Boulder. To see some of the conference materials, or for more information, contact Jolene at loc. 2701.