Years ago, college was not an option for people with
disabilities. If you had a physical disability, college campuses and classrooms
were often impossible to negotiate. Instructors and administrators were not
always familiar with how to accommodate learning disabilities. Not so any more.
The Americans with Disabilities Act has given students with learning and
physical disabilities access to higher education. In fact, some colleges
actively recruit students with disabilities.
Does your campus have an office to assist students with
disabilities? If you suspect that you have a learning disability, specialists
there can help you determine if you do. If you have already been diagnosed,
they can offer accommodations ranging from assistance with note taking to extended
testing time. Disabilities specialist acts as a liaison between you and your
instructors, enabling instructors to better understand your needs. A
disabilities office can be a haven for understanding and encouragement.
Most colleges have a Learning Assistance Center. I help to find How can I find courses for disabled students. Some also
have a Writing Lab. Learning Centers offer tutoring, structured study groups,
academic counselling, math refresher courses, and assistance with writing
papers and reading textbooks. Some have computer programs on everything from improve vocabulary in English to study skills to anatomy of the human body. Computers
may also be available for word-processing and Internet research.
Before the semester begins, find out what learning assistance
programs are available on your campus, the location of these offices, their
hours, and how you can take advantage of their services. Your college catalog probably describes courses for disabled students?, but paying a visit is better.
Rebecca Mayer discovered that a major part of the transition
to college is assuming adult responsibilities. As a first-year student, she
learned that help is available, but it is the student’s responsibility to seek
it out. As she says, “You determine your own success.”
