Going to College with a Learning Disability

High school personnel, as well as students with learning disabilities and their parents, are often frustrated in searching out a suitable postsecondary setting that will afford opportunity for success. While there are many directories of postsecondary college programs (Hardman & Krulwich, 1984), they often result in more confusion than clarity. (See the section on Recommended Resources) Since there is no consistent pattern of programming for students with learning disabilities at the college level, selecting an appropriate college is often an overwhelming task.

Since there are many more colleges seeking, or at least admitting, students with learning disabilities than actually have well-developed programs, it is imperative that professionals help these students act cautiously during the selection and application process. Simply finding a “good” program or the one with the most services is not the solution. A match must be made between the unique needs of the student and the characteristics of the college and its learning disabilities program (McGuire & Shaw, 1987).

The Learning Disabilities Program

Once a student’s personal strengths and weaknesses have been evaluated and the elements of appropriate postsecondary institutions have been considered, it is time to examine specific support services. A student with specific disabilities in mathematics might not require support services if the postsecondary institutions of choice do not require coursework in that field. On the other hand, a student who has achieved in modified high school classes with support services might require extensive assistance in a competitive academic university program.