| More and more of today's high school students who | | | | request help when at college. In high school, the law |
| struggle with a learning disability are not letting that | | | | demands that the school identify and help LD |
| keep them back, but are heading off to college in | | | | students, but not so in college.Students with learning |
| spite of their disability. There are several steps of | | | | disabilities need to make special preparation for the |
| preparation that students who have learning | | | | transition into collage life. Students need to be aware |
| disabilities can take to make the transition from high | | | | of the options they have for college. Some colleges |
| school to college as smooth as possible. These | | | | have open admission policies, which allow anyone with |
| preparations start in high school.First, students who | | | | a high school diploma to enter the college. Others |
| have learning disabilities need to work on developing | | | | have selective criteria and may only accept students |
| self knowledge while in high school. They need to | | | | with a certain GPA or test score. There are also two |
| understand what learning style works best for them. | | | | types of colleges based on the length of the |
| They need to have an arsenal of learning strategies | | | | education. Two-year colleges usually have open |
| in hand that they know will allow them to achieve | | | | admissions policies and allow the student to earn an |
| success in school. Such strategies might include asking | | | | Associates Degree. These are sometimes referred to |
| for extra time to take tests, listening to books read | | | | as Community Colleges. Four-year colleges or |
| out loud instead of reading them, or making up | | | | universities are often more selective in their |
| acronyms to help them remember important | | | | admissions acceptance and offer more specialized |
| material.Next, the learning disabled student needs to | | | | degrees. Some colleges have programs designed for |
| understand the legal rights that he or she is entitled | | | | students with learning disabilities. Those with severe |
| to. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which | | | | learning disabilities should seek one of these |
| was passed in 1990, protects the confidentiality of | | | | institutions.Just because a student has a learning |
| records, so colleges do not have access to any | | | | disability does not mean that he or she cannot and |
| disability records. Because of Section 504 of the | | | | should not pursue higher education. The law demands |
| Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities | | | | reasonable accommodation for those with LD at |
| Act, colleges cannot discriminate in accepting | | | | colleges and universities. LD students who are |
| students with learning disabilities. Students with | | | | planning to go to college need to have a good |
| learning disabilities have to be allowed reasonable | | | | understanding of their own learning strategies and |
| modifications in order to complete their education, | | | | what helps them learn best. By doing some research |
| such as extra time for tests, alternate test forms | | | | and planning well for the transition, even students |
| and other things. One difference at college over high | | | | with learning disabilities can succeed and even thrive |
| school is the student must take the initiative to | | | | in the college setting. |