<p>I'm searching for a college for my son that would provide him the best environment and academic program -- AND support for his learning disabilities. It's a lot to ask for, I know. My son is "gifted and talented", yet has extremely poor time management skills and has memorization problems. He needs and uses a lot of extended time on tests. His processing speed is very slow. Even so, he is intellectually gifted enough that he has had a reasonable amount of success in school, just through compensating for his disabilities through the strength of his intellect. </p>
<p>He'g going to need help to stand on his own two feet in college. He's also interested in majoring in business. The truly ideal thing would be to find a college that offered both LD support and a 5-year MBA program.</p>
<p>Does he have extreme LDs, or is it mild. I have pretty well defined ADD and dyslexia and I managed fine without any special treatment. At any rate, I hear the folloiwng universities accommodate students with LDs:</p>
<p>American University
Muhlenberg College
Ohio Wesleyan University
Syracuse University
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Vermont</p>
<p>Hi,
My son's diagnosis is CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Deficit). Over the years however, his problems are less about how he processes audio, but are more about the time it takes to process work (defined as reading, studying, writing, doing research, or just about ANYTHING school related). As a child (5th grade) he testing in the top 99th percentile in both Math and Verbal CTBS tests, a score which got him ranked as "gifted and talented" by Johns Hopkins U. He learns well when new information has context. He can't do rote memorization at all. His high school (sadistically) refused to exempt him from their foreign language requirement, so he will have had two years of a foreign language. I hope to find a school which will not require him to take more. He just finished his Sophomore year, but has been allowed to "skip" his Junior year (which is do-able because he was a year ahead in Math and Science requirements, and can complete all requirements in this time). Therefore he will be a Senior in the fall and will be applying to colleges for Fall 2006. I believe he can show a B-plus average. He hasn't taken the SAT or ACT tests yet.
Thanks for any advice and information you can offer!
Alex</p>
<p>Alexandre-
Thanks for your reply. While on one level my son's LDs (see my second post for a description of them) are not terribly severe, he needs a serious amount of help in managing his time and getting work done without a great deal of procrastination, as well as a seeming inability to move forward when faced with a project or assignment of great magnitude. This behavior isn't about being obstinate. It really is LD-based, and is largely I believe tied to processing difficulties. </p>
<p>A problem smart kids run into is that in their earlier years in school, because they could compensate for the LDs they have by simply using their smarts, the LDs were not properly addressed. Such kids were not taught the skills they would need once the work would become more difficult, and shear compensation through their intelligence would not be enough.
While virtually all colleges provide accommodations (a la 504 plans, giving extended time, for example), what I'm looking for are more comprehensive programs that address these issues and do a lot more hand-holding than just a 504 plan. The SALT program at the University of Arizona is one such program. Fairleigh Dickenson in New Jersey also has one. </p>
<p>Can anyone help me with more possibilities? What other colleges have such programs??</p>
<p>I know Northeastern Univ has an excellent small LD program that you have to apply to in advance of college b/c it has a waiting list. You apply to the college itself separately. When my son went to NEU, there were only 50+ students in the program and the support was EXCELLENT. Another school I have heard wonderful things about is Mitchell College in Connecticut - also small, very personalized, good support. Curry College outside of Boston is excellent, but it doesn't have the same college campus feel (VERY dedicated staff, however)</p>
<p>My nephew has an auditory processing disorder. I think he only applied to schools with support programs. His list was Chico State, Sonoma State, Saint Mary's College of California, University of Arizona and Loyola Marymount.</p>
<p>SMC has a good business program and its grads are highly recruited in the Bay Area.</p>
<p>My son went to NEU from 1999 -2004 (he did co-op) and he used support for about 2 1/2 years. The support consisted of about 3 appts per week with hand-picked tutors and 1 appt with his learning specialist who oversaw everything. My son also took his tests in the DSC, at least initially, and he said no one in the classroom even questioned why he was gone. </p>
<p>When we first visited NEU, I asked if my son could meet with a successful student in the program. They matched him with a boy in his 3rd year. they went into a room alone, and the kid told it like it is -- just what my son needed. When my son was in his third year, HE was chosen as a model student in the program to speak to a visitor! He ended up graduating with a 3.2 - can't complain!</p>
<p>S is currently a student at NEU with mild Asperger's. And although he does not receive any disability services or accommodations, I had checked out their program a little bit before he enrolled - just in case the need should arise! (our backup was a very small LAC in Minn just a few miles away from us, Augsburg College, which is well known locally for its LD services, and the number of students there with LDs is quite large). </p>
<p>In addition to numerous accommodations and LD services available through NEU's disability resource center, they also have a special fee-based program through the health services center for students with LDs, which provides additional supports. Just from the little I have heard and read, I was very impressed with their program. Here are links to their website:</p>
<p>Could some of you parents provide me with a list of questions to ask the disability resources center of schools.? I know a few of you do have expertise in this area. My daughter and I have an appt at one of her picks on April 14. Her other pick touts all its supports and yet when i requested an application for one of their support programs, I was told that applications wouldn’t be available till the school year starts next year! I very politely said that this poses a dilemma since we need to determine whether the services she needs are going to be available to her before committing-I have not gotten a response yet to my reply note.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help! I wish I had found this site much sooner in the search process.</p>
<p>I know someone who was LD that graduated from UCLA and went on to Columbia for grad school and someone who went to Berkeley who went on to Wisconsin Law School. I think the UC’s are pretty responsive especially both UCLA and Berkeley.</p>
<p>Landmark College in VT says LD kids fail to exercise executive function. First they miss a class, then by the end of the term, they are not going to class at all. This is a two year program, but it sounds right for your son’s issues. Good luck.</p>
<p>The students that arrive here come in three flavors from most to least prevalent:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Those who are Passionate and on track, recognize their full potential waiting to be tapped and the responsibility they have to themselves. They are open minded, realizing they don’t have all the answers and Landmark College is the place that they can try it all and fail without becoming a failure in order to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. They go above and beyond to learn and get the most from the experience. ( A small population)</p></li>
<li><p>Those who recognize they have struggles and see the need to learn the tools and habits to overcome them to achieve success. They exert what effort is need to achieve and get by. (The average student)</p></li>
<li><p>Those who didn’t do well in high school or college, admit they have a hard time in the real world, but fail to recognize the effort and responsibility they have to their success. They exert minimum effort to get by. (A small but fierce group)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Everyone is open-minded and eclectic in their own way. ADHD minds are powerful when their attention is motivated and directed towards a meaningful cause. Creativity is prevalent. Everyone shares the common bond of AD/HD and the daily struggle to succeed despite the challenge. Many interesting minds. </p>
<p>Campus:</p>
<p>The Campus is small. The schools population is 500. The town of Putney has 2,000 ppl. There is nearly nothing to do on campus. You need a car to reach a social scene: Brattleboro and Keene are the closest towns… both are fun and artsy and contain many college people. Many mountains and fresh air. </p>
<p>Overall Positive:</p>
<p>This school is specifically designed for students with ADHD/LD with average to superior intellect. The formal education doesn’t foster creativity nor does it allow much room for different learning styles. This college is built for creative minds who learn differently as long as a solid understanding of the material is achieved. This school provides vast resources and accessible faculty that are helpful, encouraging and understanding. This school has the most up to date technology to help foster different learning styles. One of the world’s leading learning research facilities takes place on campus. All the faculty are extremely well trained and passionate about reaching out to those who are bright but struggled with conform with the pressures of the rigid education system. They professors are accessible for one on one appointments almost every day of the week. The remote campus keeps distractions non existent- but then again if you are ADD, you will find distractions. It’s just up what kid of success you want from yourself. The school pairs you up with an ad visor that meets with you once or twice every two weeks. You set goals, review progress and organize scheduling that would be most helpful in getting you to the next college. Transfer Service department works closely to find the next college and the proper fit, making sure the credits are transferable. They are personable and helpful.</p>
<p>If you want to do well and stay on task, finding like minded people is achievable but difficult with only 500 people. There is little to do but study. The school is overall boring. No social scene at all. The population consists of ADD kids which can be annoying at times. Sometimes classes are distracting with all the ADD kids which detracts from classroom learning because of those who cant keep focused and constantly have to be redirected. </p>
<p>Summary:</p>
<p>This is the most expensive school in the country at $50,000 a year. You get what you pay for, although sometimes you wonder if they price tag is really worth it. The school is what it is- and the only one in existence. If you want to learn skills and strategies to help you succeed, you will find them here. No one will spoon feed you. You earn everything. The staff is more than helpful and the resources are very abundant. There is minimal distractions, which is good for keeping on task, but bad if you want to get out and live a little. The credits here are transferable to many Universities. If you want to go on to a competitive college it is more than achievable with students transferring to Ivy league schools and top private colleges.</p>