Can Your Child with Learning Disabilities Thrive in College?
For many students with learning disabilities, the idea of applying to and succeeding in college can be daunting. Yet many students with learning disabilities have achieved great success in college and beyond. The ideas below can help you excel and thrive in your college journey.
Applying to college
Applying to college can be an overwhelming process for all students, but for students with learning disabilities, this process can be even more challenging. You may want to start by researching various institutions and looking at the support services they offer for students with learning disabilities. If you can, try to visit the colleges you are considering once you have narrowed down your search, and spend some time in the disability office learning about the services they offer. Once you start the application process, it’s up to you to decide whether to share your diagnosis but it may be helpful for colleges to know what your needs are. Doing so may help provide a more complete picture of your profile and allow colleges to better understand your needs. If you do decide to disclose your disability, make sure you have support documentation, including evaluations, IEPs, or 504 plans. If the school requires a standardized test for admission, you may want to apply for accommodations for these exams. You might also want to also consider test-optional schools where you may not be required to take a test at all for admission.
At college
Once you are accepted and have chosen which college to attend, one of your first visits should be to the school’s disability office. If you are seeking services, you will need to submit the documentation of your learning disability to this office so they can verify which services and support you are eligible for. The office will then help manage and coordinate your support throughout your college journey.
Tutoring
Many colleges offer free tutoring to students with learning disabilities. This may come in the form of peer tutoring from other college students, or it may be through federal funding that is available for students with disabilities. Some schools offer learning centers where students can come in-person for help. When you are at college, if your school offers a learning center, you may want to visit it, meet the tutors and staff members, and determine how they can help you. You can also look into private specialized learning disability tutoring if you feel that’s more suitable for you.
Accommodations
It is important to determine which accommodations you may need while at college. You might need extra time on tests, or perhaps you will need to take your tests in another location like a learning center. Other accommodations you might qualify for include note takers, preferential seating, audio versions of textbooks, access to a computer during tests, and other related accommodations based on your disability.
Organizational skills
A large key to success in college is developing strong organizational skills. Try to build your time management skills to help you manage your classes, workload, and other obligations. For example, you might want to learn and practice the ET/AT time management technique, where you predict how much time you think it will take to complete a task (which is the ET, or estimated time), then compare it to the AT, or actual time it takes to complete that task. You can also work on planning out your schedule in a physical or electronic calendar and work on breaking down assignments into individual steps. Additionally, you can work on techniques for prioritizing tasks by listing the most important tasks at the top of your list and less important tasks beneath that. You can also use your phone as a tool to set alerts before appointments to further help with time management. If organization is still a challenge, executive functioning coaching can help you develop these skills.
Self-advocate
In college (and in life), it’s important to advocate for yourself, especially if you have a disability. Try to fully understand your learning disability and which tools have or haven’t helped you in the past. Identify the types of services you think you would benefit from and seek them out. If you feel you are struggling despite the support you are getting at any given time, seek additional resources or tutoring. Go to your school’s disability office, explain what is going on, and ask them what they can do to further help you. You should also know your rights. There are federal laws that protect you and ensure that you receive the services and accommodations that you need. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits any discrimination towards individuals with disabilities.
Students with learning disabilities absolutely have the ability to thrive in college. It is important to visit your school’s disability office and learn the types of support and services they offer. You can also seek tutoring and accommodations as needed, strengthen your organizational skills, and self-advocate. Following these tips will help you on your path towards success in college and in life after school.