Attributes Of Colleges For Students With Learning Disabilities

Imagine you are a high school junior who is beginning the research process into what colleges you should consider applying for admission. Perhaps you are a high school senior who is entering the twilight of their final high school year and are facing the crucial choice of which college to attend.

Add to these decision crossroads the variable of a learning disability such as Developmental Dyslexia and Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), the most common and well-known, or lesser-known conditions like Dysphasia or Dyscalculia. What colleges have programs that will best accommodate students with learning disabilities? What features should I look for in a college that will best help students to learn and maximize their college experience regardless of how they process information?

Most major colleges and universities have programs to aid students with learning disabilities through a variety of accommodations including additional tutoring and note-taking assistants. However, will each student with a learning disability receive the additional attention they require in a medium-sized college with a student population of approximately 25,000? What about larger universities where the student population is near triple that amount? The answer: unlikely.

One of the most important attributes a student with learning disabilities should look for in their college of choice is a relatively low student population. This will reduce the student-to-professor ratio to a manageable level that will allow for additional attention. Other support services that should be provided by the college are:

*Writing Center - where students can receive supplemental writing instruction through one-on-one consultations that will develop the critical thinking skills necessary for college-level writing.
*Mentoring - some smaller colleges, and others that specialize in educating students with learning disabilities, offer mentoring programs to help guide students through the college process. This can be especially valuable to the students in their freshman and sophomore years when skills such as self-regulation and note-taking may not yet be fully developed.
*Text-to-Audio Tools - computer software is available that assists students with reading disabilities by converting textbooks and other documents into an audio format for better comprehension.
*Speech-to-Text Tools - devices that will enable a student with disabilities related to writing to verbally dictate content and have it be transferred into a written document.
*Thought Graphing - software tools that will assist students in organizing their thoughts into visual graphs.

In summary, the importance of smaller student populations and a low student-to-professor ratio cannot be overstated. A high level of individual attention makes a significant difference to a student with learning disabilities and greatly increases the likelihood of academic success. Furthermore, the availability of newer learning technology will augment the student's experience and advance their comprehension and retention.

Several colleges exist that cater to students with learning disabilities which offer both low class sizes and advanced learning technology. An especially efficient way to identify these schools is by checking their mission statements for references to offering academic degree programs to students with learning disabilities. College for ADHD Students, Developmental Dyslexia, and other learning disabilities does not have to be a struggle if the proper fit is found.