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