To disclose a disability learning in a college or less can be a difficult decision for a student who has endured the stigma of the label "special education" for his entire school career. Shed stamp "LD" and feel like their peers, students often choose not to disclose after high school. Beware, however, to weigh carefully the pros and cons for each choice, for the consequences of this decision, sometimes it can have disastrous consequences.
Students often fail to realize that the College brings a new set of standards relating to disability in college students with disabilities are anonymous. Disclosure is confidential and involves only the Disability Services Office and any masters that the student informs. Labels are non-existent.
Should disclose in an application? Probably not-unless you apply to a college exclusively for students with disabilities, or you need to explain the unusually poor grades or test scores. Generally, you do not want to give a college no reason to have preconceptions. You could logically assume that college admissions officers would have knowledge of disabilities and realize that students with LD can be goods-are often highly creative, bright, "outside the box" thinkers. However, even among professionals, there is still a stunning lack of knowledge. Why risk the possibility of an individual case of reviewing your application?
Once admitted to a College, however, there are definite advantages to disclosure:
From high school, a supportive environment with lower expectations and a lighter work load, you probably have difficulty navigating a new system without a guide or a safety net. Disclosure makes you eligible for accommodations such as extra time, a test environment without distraction, a note taker, mentoring, etc. Using these arrangements do not provide advantages-it just levels the playing field, giving you the same opportunities as other students. Think of the way in which housing would be eye glasses.
Disclosure provides protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and in particular section 504. If your documentation supports housing and is denied, you have the right at your side. Without disclosure are unprotected, despite the fact that a disability exists.
Disclosure and use of facilities at the outset, increase your chances of success and reinforce your confidence. It is much easier to maintain a high GPA (grade point average) rather than raise one down. Students who insist on "going to for the first semester frequently struggle with unique challenges of college, finishing with grades less than optimal. They are therefore in a position of having to raise their GPA to an acceptable level-which can take many semesters. When you start a new adventure, it makes no sense to put your best foot forward? It is not real good grades allow you? Conversely, the poor classes can cause to doubt of your decision to attend college in the first place.
If you suspect that you will be able to handle a full course load of college from the beginning, and psycho-educational testing supports this, ask your examiner to add "Reduced load" to the list of recommendations at the end of your documentation. Disclosure should give permission to take fewer classes, while he is still considered a full-time student for insurance purposes. Be sure to ask your service provider of disability of your college about this.
2007 Joan Azarva
Joan m. Azarva, Ms. and, a specialist expert learning College, father of a son adult success with LD/ADD and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education has experience that spans three decades + with students of all ages. In 1993, however, due to the well-documented low postsecondary success rate of students with learning disabilities, Joan decided to focus exclusively on the critical period of transition from high school to college.
Joan learned from his professional and personal experiences, which not only proactive measures can often repel failure, can also produce results extremely desirable. If you are the parent of a high school student with learning differences, sign Joan listserv and receive a 55-page E-Book free academic interactive websites, going to http://www.ConquerCollegewithLD.com.
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