You’re almost ready to graduate! Now what? Learning differences or ADD/ADHD do not have to adversely affect your ability to be a successful college student. If you’re a student with a specific learning disability and your goal is to earn a college academic degree, here’s some important information to help you get heading in the right direction.
Academic help
Be prepared for the academic transition to college by knowing the exact diagnosis of your specific learning disability. Make sure you have an accurate assessment of yourself so you can choose a college program that has the level of support you need. What accommodations are appropriate for your learning disabilities or learning difference? Are your time management and organizational skills strong enough to compensate for your ADD/ADHD?
Showing your Individual Education Plan (IEP) is not enough documentation if you plan to request accommodations. Neither can you just tell an admissions counselor that you have trouble with reading comprehension.
To receive special services, such as extended time or copies of lecture notes, you must provide written proof of a learning disability that requires accommodation. A complete psycho-educational evaluation should include an adult measure of IQ, documentation of academic levels in reading, writing, and math and a specific diagnosis of the learning disabilities. Most evaluations also include a list of appropriate accommodations or strategies for academic success. Submit applications early in case you need to have additional testing or a new educational evaluation.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking for a program to fit your needs:
What exactly is my specific documented learning disability?
How does it affect my ability to learn in the classroom? When studying? Doing homework? Completing assignments?
How much help do I need to keep myself organized, stay on task, prepare for exams and complete work on time?
What tests or educational evaluations do I have to document my special learning needs? When were the evaluations given?
Now that you know yourself a little better, you need to know more about the types of support services available at colleges and universities. Here are some of the levels of support you can expect from a school.
In minimum support programs, there is limited access to learning disability specialists, limited accommodations upon request in advance, open study labs, study skills courses offered and limited contact with campus faculty.
In moderate support programs, there are specific programs designed to offer tutorial support to students with learning disabilities, access to trained staff, accommodations upon request, homework help, assigned mentors, study skills courses and contact with faculty.
In programs with comprehensive support, you should be ready to learn self-advocacy, be willing to seek help and would benefit from direct instruction in organization and task completion.
Finding a school
Take a good hard look at which college program offers you the best chance to be academically successful.
With the right attitude, perseverance and determination you will be able to have a great college experience wherever you go. Good luck!
Betsy Stout Morrill is director of admissions and Stephanie Knight is admissions coun-selor for Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla.
