Despite the still sweltering Central Texas heat, September signifies that fall is just around the corner. And no time of the year feels more ‘collegiate’ than fall. College football’s back, class reunions take place, and older high school students looking to attend university next year start visiting campuses and filling out applications.
The college search is an exciting experience for most teenagers and their parents. For those with learning differences (such as dyslexia, auditory processing deficit, or ADHD), the process can create anxiety not only about getting in somewhere but about being able to keep up academically once admitted.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported that for the 20.4 million students entering college in the fall of 2017, more than 200,000 had claimed some type of learning disability.
So, you are not alone.
“Many families are unfamiliar with the accommodations and services that colleges now provide students with learning differences,” said CNCA’s Dr. Ezam Ghodsi. “Huge strides have been made in education to create more inclusive learning environments, with knowledgeable and trained staff specifically for these issues, and no one should feel embarrassed to ask about this during the admissions process.”
Make sure your college-bound child shares on applications what the learning differences are and include any formal IEP (individualized education program) or special accommodations that he has been receiving in high school.
Common modifications to ask about having in college include:
• Modified coursework
• Access to adaptive technologies and software, such as speech-to-text devices, or typing/word processing assistance
• Regular check-ins and tutoring with academic advisors and/or disability resource centers located on campus or in the neighborhood
If you have concerns about your teen’s learning differences as they head off to college, please contact us for an appointment with one of CNCA’s pediatric neurology specialists. We treat children and teenagers of all ages.
(Adapted from Best Colleges.com)
