College Preparation for Students with Diagnosed Learning Disabilities

Comments we hear from students with Learning Disabilities

No one ever discussed it with me, so while I knew I had something that was different about me, I did not know what it was.

I was never diagnosed and so never got any help.

I was not taught that I could succeed in spite of my education difficulties.

My parents allowed me to get away with the excuse that I had learning difficiulties, now I am trying to learn to deal with it and play catch up.

I don't understand the process I need to follow to get into college and succeed there.

Self assessment for students with special needs: Am I ready for college?

How can parents provide the most effective help for their teenagers with academic disabilities?

Ask professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, special services professionals, etc. for referrals to well-regarded diagnostic services in your community.

Find out your school district's diagnostic requirements for admission to special programs.

Most colleges require a current diagnosis (within the last three years) for admission to college learning disabilities programs, ask around for referrals to psychologists who have experience doing these evaluations.

Medication:

- OVER 90% OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY OF RITALIN (AKA STRATTERA) IS USED IN THE UNITED STATES, and it's being used on children as young as two years of age. In my opinion, this is criminal.
- Having acadedmic disabilities does not automatically mean your child should be on medication.
- Do not medicate your child unless advised by a psychologist or psychiatrist, and even then not until that professional has seen your child for, at least, several sessions. Especially do not medicate your child based on the recommendation of a classroom teacher, and do not medicate your child by asking a General Practitioner M.D. to prescribe medications.
- Do not take recommendations from a teacher as to which physicians will give you a prescription. Only psychologists and psychiatrists are qualified to diagnose your child and make recommendations.
  Ritalin is not supposed to be about a quiet classroom.
- Putting your teen on medication can have life-changing consequences, either good or bad. Don't do this lightly or without adequate knowledge and understanding.
- Discuss the medication pros and cons with your teen.
- Research the drugs used to medicate children and teens, discuss recommended medications with the prescribing physician and be sure you understand any possible side-effects, long-term risks, and the effect of the medication on the brain and brain development, on creativity, appetite, and on mental and emotional well-being.
- If you do decide to medicate your child, monitor any emotional or behavioral changes, ask your teen his/her opinions.
- If a teen on medication goes away to college, be sure you have an understanding of his/her committment for compliance while living away from home.

Be sure you have a complete understanding of your teen-agers' learning disability.

Pay attention to the non-academic portions of your teen's life to evaluate possible non-academic ramifications the disability.

Be on the lookout for times when your teenager is confused, overwhelmed, or frustrated.

Discuss the disability with your teen, and ask how he/she feels about it.

Recognize your teen's strengths and encourage growth and activity in those areas.

Establish a collaboration effort between home and school so academic expectations are understood and acted on.

Gradually, as your child enters the teen years, allow him/her the responsibility for the day-to-day tasks of life and school: getting to school on time, finishing homework, baby-stepping through long term assignments, managing a schedule.

Hire qualified LD tutors if you feel your child is falling behind academically. In some places, about half of every class is tutored in some subjects, mainly math. (Don't get me started on the quality of education our children are receiving in most of our the public schools.)

Encourage your child to become involved in community service. Not only is this required by many colleges, but it promotes community awareness, sociability, a sense of helping others, and emotional maturity.

As a college-bound student with learning disabilities, what are the differences in my rights in high school and those in college?

Section 504 and Title II protect elementary, secondary and post secondary students from discrimination.

Section 504 requires a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for all elemetary and high school students with disabilities. It also directs the district to identify the students' particular needs and to provide education and services necessary to meet those needs.

However, postsecondary schools are not required to provide a free education. Colleges are required to make appropriate academic adjustments as necessary for those with docoumented disabilities to ensure non-discrimination on this basis.

Are my admissions standards different than students without learning disabilities?

You do have to meet an institution's general standards for admissions. This will involve SATs, ACTs, and any other testing requirements, as well as submission of your high school GPA. Always study the web sites of your target schools.

To see an ideal college program for students with LDs and ADHD, take a look at this site:

Landmark College

Can a school deny me admission because I have learning disabilities

No. You do have to meet their basic requirements for admissions, and any school can deny anyone admission, but colleges cannot deny you admission based on your disability.

Are there lowered admissions standards for applicants with learning disabilities?

In most cases, you must first be accepted and enrolled in the school; then you would apply for the special services programs.

Do I have to tell my prospective colleges I have a learning disability?

No, you do not have to inform them. However, with acceptance to their programs for students with special learning needs, you have access to an array of services, depending on the level of the programs provided by the school.

These services can include special tutors, note takers, untimed exams, special classes, oral exams, LD specialists and other services, depending on the college's Learning Disabilities programs.

In addition:

after your freshman year, you may be allowed early or on-line registration to avoid crowds

free photocopying services

special study skills classes if you feel you need extra help in writing, research techniques, and/or time management

vocabulary support software that checks all your written work, learning the student's style of writing and use of vocabulary to help with the completion of assignments

paper copies of lecture notes, overheads and other learning devices used by the instructor or professor

What about grades and test scores from high school?

Colleges may make an exception about admission requirements for students who have good GPAs, but low SAT or ACT scores. This is done on an individual case-by-case basis.

For a detailed explanation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 as it relates to students at U.S. universities, go to Special laws for special students at U.S. Universities.

Also visit this collection of online resources for colleges and university faculty who teach college and university students with disabilities: Special information for faculty, students and parents.

In addition, you may be interested in the LD Educational Improvement Act of 2004

A site of interest for students with physical disabilities is this one from the University of California at Berkeley: Access to the Internet for students with special needs

Getting ready to apply for college

Review carefully all our pages from the links below, on college applications, admissions, SATs and ACTs.

Then follow our link to the additional information you need to apply to college if you have been diagnosed with learning disabilities.

In your sophomore or junior year you will be thinking about SATs or ACT exams. You will take these your sophomore or junior year, and you can take them in the fall of your senior year. With a diagnosed learning disability you may be able to sign up for an ACT or SAT nonstandard version.

All About the ACTs

All about the SATs

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for people with disabilities

Search Colleges

Four-year high school calendar specific to extra college prep steps for students with learning disabilities

College Admissions Portfolio

Extracurricular Activities in high school

Volunteering in high school

Are you a high school athlete?

Applications

Applications Essays

Teacher recommendations