Multilingual Learners Identified or Suspected of Having Educational Disabilities

This webpage is designed to provide guidelines and resources for professionals and families supporting English Language Learners (a federal designation) who are also identified with or suspected of having educational disabilities also known as Dually Identified students. English Language Learners (ELLs) are identified as a subgroup of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) population.

The appropriate referral, identification, and placement of learners who are Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse is necessary to ensure students' civil rights as well as a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Resources, opportunities for training and workshops as well as links to other sources of information on this topic are available below.

CDE Offices

• Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
• MTSS - Office of Learning Supports
• Office of Literacy (READ Act)
  • READ ACT and English Learners
• Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Education - Title VII Programs

 

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Stay Up to Date  -  Manténgase Informada/o

Sign up for the Multilingual Learners with Disabilities listserv.  To request to be added to the MLDB Listserv email Steven Dyer.

Regístrese en el servidor de listas de estudiantes multilingües con discapacidades.  Para pedir que lo/la registremos en el servidor de listas MLDB envíele un correo electrónico de Steven Dyer.

Click here to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MLDB Listserv

Listserv Disclaimer:

A variety of learning opportunities, information, and resources are provided on this listserv. These materials do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they required or endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The identification or description is for the purpose of providing information and resources and does not constitute CDE's endorsement. Every effort has been made to identify the citation for the resource; please maintain the citation and/or authorship when adapting or modifying these materials.

Other Resources

Family and Community Resources

• PEAK Parent Center
• OSEP IDEA Spanish Glossary 2nd Edition
• Deaf Students and English Language Learners
• Colorin Colorado
• Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs
• National Council on Disability 2018

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Resources

• OSEP Fast Facts
• OSEP Spanish Glossary 2nd Edition
• OSEP Letter to Timothy Boals, PhD 2021

Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) Resources

• Benefits of Multilingualism  OELA
• OELA Tool Kit
• Tools and Resources of Addressing the Needs of English Language Learners with Disabilities

Department of Education (DOE) Resources

• Pyler Dear Colleague Letter 2014

World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Resources

• WIDA Can Do Philosophy
• WIDA Understanding Multilingual Learners
• WIDA Can Do Descriptors
• WIDA ELD Standards
• WIDA Speaking-Writing Rubrics

Resources from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

• Dynamic Assessment Modules

Resources from Colorin Colorado

• Special Education and English Language Learners
• Colorin Colorado ELLs with Disabilities: How ESL/Bilingual Specialist can Collaborate for Student Success

 

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For more information, please contact:

Hunter Smith
Multilingual Learners with Educational Disabilities Specialist
Phone (720) 202-2523
Email Hunter Smith (smith_h@cde.state.co.us)