For high school students with Learning Disabilities that are starting their college search, one very important piece of information is on the levels of support given. Every college across the country has to have some type of support for all their students. The type of support is what can be the tricky part to understand if you are not aware of the lingo or what to look for. Some colleges have Support Services (available for ALL students) that can range from, one person or student staff members that help students with tutoring in classes that they may be struggling in. Other colleges have Support Services that have multiple professional and student staff members to help with tutoring in any class and students can choice a professional or student tutor that best fits their needs (sometimes having to pay for the professional, so make sure to ask if there is an additional coast).
The other type of support is in the form of a Support Programs. Students typically have to submit documentation from their cognitive and achievement testing (the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, the WAIS, or The Woodcock Johnson), and their IEP or 504 (educational assistance plans) in proof of their Learning Disability. This will help the college to evaluate the student and see if they are a good fit for the program or not. Programs give more one-on-one support with an educated and trained counselor/advisor in areas of Learning Disabilities. This counselor helps the student to learn skills, strategies, time management, and goal setting to help build on the students strengths and weaknesses. This helps them to understand what type of learning style works the best for them and what type of learner they are (visual, auditory, hands on or combinations of each or all). Also, being in a program will offer students multiple types of accommodations such as un-timed testing, testing put on the computer or read allowed, note takers, readers, Books - text book - and articles on CD, and computer assistive technologies.
All the extras of accommodations and one-on-one support that come with a program also come with an additional fee. All programs fees very college to college and is another great question to ask when visiting a college campus. I recommend when touring a campus to make sure and ask to see the facilities of the Support Services and Support Programs. This will allow you to know where they are located, but also to see the size of the facilities (rooms, technology, staffing, that can be a strong indicator of how much time, money and effort is put into the services or program).
Aaron Smith
Independent Counselor
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