The ITAKA Center
Support Center for Students with Learning Disabilities
ITAKA provides support and services to students with special educational needs. Beneficiaries of the Center’s services come from various college departments, including students enrolled in advanced degree programs.
The students receive various services at the Center, including counseling and problem-solving services from the Center Coordinator. Students receive personal attention as well as guidance on learning strategies. Private tutoring is also available through the “Perach” program in which peers provide year-round tutoring to help students develop their study skills.
Annual workshops are held on cultivating learning strategies and coping with test anxiety, providing students with information and practical learning and coping techniques. The Center is open during the day, offering a quiet and friendly atmosphere for study. It features a computer room with 14 stations equipped with assistive technologies and software tailored to students’ needs.
Students may also be eligible to receive exam accommodations based on diagnostic assessments. For instance, eligible students may take exams in English at the Center using specialized text-to-speech software.
The Center’s goals and activities include:
- Providing personal academic and emotional support;
- Equipping students with better academic tools and strategies;
- Guiding faculty on effective ways to teach students with learning disabilities;
- Providing students with a test accommodation certificate.
A special English for Academic Purposes course is offered to help students struggling with the language. The Center also provides counseling to Bedouin students regarding all aspects of their studies.