Dr. Nicole S. Ofiesh
Professor of School of Education and Leadership

Director,Special Education Credentials amd Master's Program

Office location:
Office hours:
Phone number:	(650) 508-3627
Fax:
Email:	nofiesh@ndnu.edu
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Dr. Nicole Ofiesh began to work with children with special needs in 1985 when she worked with children with emotional and behavioral disorders for a group of residential treatment facilities in San Francisco. It was there that she became familiar with the special education system in our public schools. After returning to San Francisco State University for a Master’s in Special Education and Educational Therapy certificate, she worked in the bay area llearning more about children and adults with special needs. She was invited to join the special education doctoral program at Penn State University in 1992 under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Hughes. Her dissertation examined the relationship between processing speed and the accommodation of extended test time; a topic which captured her interest while she was a learning disabilities specialist at Skyline College and the College of San Mateo in San Mateo County. That study launched a long research career examining the effectiveness of accommodations for individuals with disabilities and effective test design for all individuals…a concept now referred to as Universal Design. She now consults nationally on test accommodations and students with disabilities. Most recently, and not coincidentally with the rise of MRI studies and the brain, she has become interested in the neuroscience of play and effective instruction.

 Dr. Ofiesh was editor of the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability from 2003-2007 and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice. She has published numerous book chapters and research articles and is an elected member of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities as well as a Professional member of the Association of Educational Therapists. She has been a full-time faculty member at Providence College, University of Arizona, and California State University, East Bay. In addition to her role as Program Director of the Special Education Credentials and Master’s program at Notre Dame de Namur University, she is proud to serve as an Education Specialist for Morrissey-Compton Educational Services in Palo, California. She remains dedicated to raising awareness that too many adolescents in the United States do not read, and that our educational system needs support in order to teach reading after elementary school. She lives in the bay area and is the mother of one daughter, who is the light of her life.

Education History

• Ph.DThe Pennsylvania State University, Special Education, 1997
• M.A.San Francisco State University, Special Education,1990
• B.A. California State University, Sacramento,Psychology, 1985

Courses Taught

• Special Education Program Management
• Curriculum Modifications and Instruction for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
• Counseling in Special Education
• Advanced Trends and Research in Special Education                                                        

Research and Interests

• Test accommodations
• Effective instruction for students with learning disabilities
• The neuroscience of play and instruction in special education.

Recognitions

• Elected as a Member of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities, 2004
• Outstanding Teacher Award: Skyline College Disabled Student Services Program, 1991-1992
• Outstanding San Francisco State Graduate Student Scholarship: Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1992

Professional Affiliations

Workshops

Major Seminars

• Ofiesh, N, (2004, October). Extended Test Time for Postsecondary Students with LD: Research, Practice,and Future Developments., Testing Agencies Disabilities Forum [LSAT, ETS, College Board, MCAT, ACT,& other national testing agencies], Educational Testing Services (ETS), Princeton, NJ. 
• Ofiesh, N. & Kasniak, A. (April, 2006). Assessment of Student Learning in Higher Education: Alternative Methods. University-wide symposium, University of Arizona. Sponsored by the University Teaching Center, Office of the Vice-President for Research, and the Office of Disability Resources.
• Ofiesh, N. (March, 2006). Negotiating the Test Accommodation Process Between Secondary to Postsecondary Settings., Accommodating Students with Disabilities, Conference sponsored by Educational Testing Service, The College Board, The Council for Exceptional Children, and The National Institute for Urban School Improvement. Savannah, GA.
• Lendman, C. & Ofiesh, N. (March, 2006). Preparing Secondary Students for Postsecondary Settings. International Conference of the Learning Disabilities Association. Jacksonville, FL.
•  Gregg, N., Thurlow, M., Ofiesh, N., Cahalan, C., Cook, L (April 2005). Accommodations—Measurement and Policy Perspectives: Elementary Through Postsecondary, National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting Training Sessions of NCME/AERA, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, CA,
•  Gregg, N., Ofiesh, N., Thurlow, M., Bandalas, D., C, & Cohen, A.. (2004, October). Test Equity and Accommodations: Elementary Through Postsecondary, half day panel presentation, Fourth International Conference for Equitable Assessment Practices. International Test Commission, Williamsburg, VA.
•  Kroeger, S., Funckes, C, Ofiesh, N. & Harrison, E. (2003, July). Assessment in Universal Design. 26th Conference for the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Dallas, TX.
•  Ofiesh, N. S. (2002, November). Learning Disabilities and Extended Time: An Everlasting Marriage. Research paper presented for SALT Center’s First Annual National Conference: Demystifying Learning Disabilities at the Postsecondary Level, Tucson, AZ.
• Ofiesh, N. S., (1999, January). Mastering the Alphabetic Principle for the Fluent Application of Meaningful Reading and Writing, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education January, 1999, Early Literacy Conference: Westford, MA.
•  McAfee, J., & Ofiesh, N. S. (1995, April). Results of a 10-year follow-up study on services for students with learning disabilities at community colleges nationwide. Paper presented at Young Adult Institute Conference, New York, NY. 
• Ofiesh, N. (April 12, 2005). Extended Test Time: Research and Practice. Hosted by LRP Publications, Broadcasted nationally to disability service providers at colleges and universities. 
• Ofiesh, N. (2005, July). The Relationship Between Speeded Cognitive and Academic Tests and Extended Test Time for Students with Learning Disabilities. International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities Annual Conference, Valencia, Spain.
•  Ofiesh, N. & Gregg, N. (2005, March). Testing and Individuals with Learning: Accommodations, Access, and Design. Learning Disabilities Association International Conference (LDA), Reno, NV.
• Ofiesh, N. S. (2004, July). Extended Test Time: Research into Practice. Presentation at the 5th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. Innsbruck, Austria.
• Gregg, N., Ofiesh, N., Quenemoen, R., Onghai, J., Brinckerhoff, l. & Cahalan, C. (2004, March). Symposium: Equity and Accommodations: Elementary Through Postsecondary, Learning Disabilities Association International Conference (LDA), Atlanta, GA.
• Ofiesh, N. S. & Rourke, G. (2003, July). Speed, fluency, and test time: A study of university students with LD. 26th Conference for the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Dallas, TX.
• Ofiesh, N. S. (2002, July). Use of processing speed and academic fluency tests to predict the benefit of extended test time for university students with learning disabilities, 25th Conference for the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Washington, D.C.
• Ofiesh, N.S., (2001, November). Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division, St. Pete Beach, FL. Teacher Decision Making in Test and Instructional Accommodations.
• Ofiesh, N.S., Brinckerhoff, L., Banerjee, M. & Hughes, C. (2001, July). Test Accommodations in the Classroom and On Standardized Tests: No Easy Answers, 24th Conference for the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Atlanta, GA.
•  Ofiesh, N. S., Gajar, A. & Long, E., (2001, July). Assistive Technology and Service Delivery to Persons with Disabilities in Postsecondary Settings. Fourth International Conference on Perspectives on Higher Education and Disability, Innsbruck, Austria.
• Gajar, A., Ofiesh, N. S., & Long, E. (2001, July). A Follow-along Study of Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: 10 years later. Fourth International Conference on Perspectives on Higher Education and Disability, Innsbruck, Austria.
• Ofiesh, N.S. & Goessling, D. P. (1999, November). Use of a Rubric to Assess Preservice Teacher Competency in Educational Report Writing. Roundtable discussion at 22nd Annual Teacher Education Division Conference of the Council for Exceptional Children, Palm Springs, CA.
• Ofiesh, N. S.(1999, July). Extended Test Time: A Review of Research Findings. Paper presented at 1999 Conference for the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Atlanta, GA.
• Harriott, W. & Ofiesh, N. S. (1999, April). Results of a nationwide survey of inservice trainings on inclusive practices for teachers. Paper presented at Council for Exceptional Children conference, Charlotte, NC.
• Ofiesh, N. S., & Merchant, D. C., Gajar, A. H., & Long, E. M. (1998, July). The results of three applied research studies for university students with learning disabilities: extended test time, self advocacy, and a 10-year follow up to service delivery. Paper presented at Third International Conference on Higher Education and Disability, Innsbruck, Austria.

Community Activities

• 2007-present: Education Specialist, Morrisey-Compton Educational Services, Palo Alto, CA. Participate as part of a team to provide psychoeducational evaluations for children and adults.
• 1998-present: Educational Testing Services (ETS), Princeton, New Jersey: Consultant, Office of Disability Policy
• 2005-2006: Leadership Public Schools, San Francisco, CA. Design and implement academic support to increase retention and performance of underachieving students in two urban charter high schools. Develop special education program incorporating Universal Design for Learning. Monitor progress of teachers in induction and related teacher-mentoring programs.
• 2002-2006: Arizona Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tucson, AZ, Provide assessments to clients with learning disabilities for workplace accommodations.
• February, 2002:Catalina High School, Presentation to special education teachers: Understanding and Making Accommodations and Modifications for Secondary Students with Disabilities, Tucson, AZ.
• January, 2002: Catalina High School, Presentation to all general and special education teachers: Teaching to All in a New Age of Diverse Learners, Tucson, AZ.
• 1998-200: Science Research Associates (SRA), Boston, MA: Direct Instruction/Reading Mastery Consultant.
• March, 200: Rhode Island Department of Education, Presentation to Office of Assessment and State IEP Advisory Committee personnel: Accommodations in Statewide Testing: How to Make the Decision, Providence, RI.

Publications

Book Chapters

• Lazarus, D. & Ofiesh, N. (2007). Navigating the Test Accommodation Process from Secondary to Postsecondary Schools. In Cook, L.  & Cahalan-Laitisus, C. (Eds.), Large Scale Assessment and Accommodations: What Works?  Council for Exceptional Children: Reston, VA. (18pps). 
• Mather, N. & Ofiesh, N. (2005). Resilience Among Children with Learning Disabilities. In S. Goldstein & R. Brooks (Eds.) Handbook of Resilience in Children, Brooks/Cole: Pacific Grove, CA.
• Ofiesh, N. (2004). Technology for Students with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities. In T. Scruggs & M. Mastropieri, (Eds.) Research in Secondary Schools: Advances in Learning and Behavioral Disabilities, Vol. 17, Elsevier Science Ltd: Oxford.

Book Reviews

• Ofiesh, N.S. (2003). Learning Disorders: Beyond the Classroom. Book Review: Learning Disorders and Disorders of the Self (J. Palombo). Contemporary Psychology:  APA Review of Books, 48 (5), 669-171.

Peer Reviewed (Refereed) Journals

• Ofiesh, N. (in review). Students with LD and High Stakes Testing: Current Trends and Future Directions.
• Ofiesh, N. (2007). Math, science, and foreign language accommodations for postsecondary students with learning disabilities: evidence-based decision making at the postsecondary level.  Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, (22), 4, 237-245..
• Ofiesh, N., Rojas, C., & Ward. R. (2006). Applying principles of universal design to the assessment of student learning. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. (19) 2, pp.173-181.
• Ofiesh, N. (2006). Response to intervention: Why we need comprehensive evaluations as part of the process.Psychology in the Schools, 43 (8), 883-888.
• Ofiesh, N., Mather, N. & Russell, A. (2005). Using speeded cognitive, reading, and academic measures to determine the need for extended test time among university students with learning disabilities. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 23, 35-52.
• Ofiesh, N., Hughes, C., & Scott, S. (2004). Extended test time and postsecondary students with learning disabilities: A model for decision making. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 19, 57-70.
• Ofiesh, N. & Hughes, C. (2003) How much extended test time: An analysis of research and recommendations for students with learning disabilities. Special Research Supplement. The Skill Journal, 75, 1-6 (United Kingdom).  
• Ofiesh, N. & Hughes, C. (2002). How much time? Extended test time for college students with learning disabilities: A review of the literature, Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, (16) 1, 2-16.
• Ofiesh, N., Rice, C., Long, E., Merchant, D., & Gajar, A. (2002). Service delivery to postsecondary students with disabilities: a nationwide survey of technology use, College Student Journal, 36 (1), 94-108.
• Ofiesh, N. S. (2000). Using processing speed subtests to predict the performance of college students with learning disabilities on extended time exams. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 14 (1), 39-56.
• Ofiesh, N. S. & McAfee, J. (2000). Results of a nationwide survey on using psychoeducational evaluations for LD service delivery in postsecondary settings. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33 (1), 14–25.
• McNaughton, D., Hughes, C., & Ofiesh, N. (1997). Proofreading for students with learning disabilities: integrating computer and strategy use. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 12 (1), 16-28.
• Wolfe, P. S., Boone, R. B., & Ofiesh, N. S. (1996). Self-advocacy preparation of consumers with disabilities: A national perspective of ADA training efforts. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 21(2), 81-87.

Other  Publications

• Ofiesh, N. Interview on implications of the ADA’s interpretation of high functioning adults with LD. (2004, October)Disability Compliance in Higher Education
• Ofiesh, N., (2001, Winter) Extended Test Time for Students with LD, Rhode Island Transition Link, Vol. 1 (3).
• Contributing Author: (2001) Rhode Island IEP Guidebook, Rhode Island State Department of Education
• Interview on Extended Test Time, (2003, April), Disability Compliance in Higher Education Vol. 8 (9)