No student should have to turn down an offer of college admission, which is why there are many college services available to students with learning challenges. These services are designed to accommodate students with learning disabilities like ADHD and many others, according to LD Online.. Most services are designed to link students and their parents to individual professors and specialized, on-campus offices that manage learning challenge accommodation on an individual basis. Before starting the college search, accepting an offer of admission, or enrolling in the first semester of on-campus classes, consider the services widely available at today’s schools that can make learning and achievement easier to attain than ever.
One-On-One Consultation with Learning Services Professionals
Many colleges and universities encourage learning challenged students and their parents to participate in an individualized consultation prior to submitting a formal application for admission. This meeting will allow a university representative to learn about the student’s challenges and recommend accommodating services that can help the student succeed in their coursework if they do decide to enroll. Better yet, many universities will establish long-term relationships with students so that they have a go-to point of contact for special accommodations if they choose to apply to the university and are accepted for the upcoming academic year. This is the best place to start learning about special courses, professors, high-tech services, and on-campus offices.
Conduct a Course Audit Prior to Enrollment
Another great way to determine a university’s ability to accommodate certain learning challenges is to conduct a course evaluation prior to enrolling. A course evaluation will allow students and their parents to sit in on a few lectures and observe how professors teach, how they accommodate students, and how their policies can be adapted for someone with a significant challenge in the classroom. Audits are typically free, but must be arranged in advance with the consent of both the professor and an on-campus learning support representative.
Coordination with Student Transition Plans
In recent years, the transition plan has become a powerful way to help students ease from high school into either college or a career. Many universities have learning support staff who will work alongside students to help them follow through with this plan, which might include special accommodation for placement testing, scheduling, and other arrangements within the confines of the university’s academic code and professors’ syllabi throughout the student’s first two semesters at the school.
Assistive Technology Services for Students
Major universities recognize the power and potential of assistive technology in the classroom. These technologies include speech-to-text and text-to-speech engines, assistance for the visually or hearing impaired, and much more. When considering a university, make sure that they support a student’s technological needs and allow the use of required high-tech tools in a classroom setting. This is the best way to ensure that students will have the basic ability to read, hear, understand, and demonstrate comprehension of material taught in the classroom.
Related Resource: Pell Grants
Consult With School Representatives About Accommodations
There are many universal ways that universities try to accommodate students with learning challenges, including an embrace of assistive technology and consultations with learning support staff in advance of enrollment. Every school differs in its policies and approach, however. For this reason, students and their parents should always evaluate the college services available to students with learning challenges on a school-by-school basis as they begin considering the student’s future educational goals.
