My Son has a 504 due to his OCD. He is very smart and will graduate with over a 4.0 and got a 32 on the ACT - Took honors and AP in high school but had a 504 because his OCD makes him take longer on tests because he basically over thinks everything and does more work than is needed. He hardly uses the 504 except maybe in math. Anyhow, he really struggles with reading - again he’s super smart but is a very slow reader because he can’t “gloss over” anything and thinks a lot about what he’s reading. My question is, will this be a problem if he joins an honors college? I heard the honors classes are reading heavy.
Talk to some prospective schools. Most schools have an office to handle accommodations.
Thank you!
Has he had a neuropsych evaluation? Are his scanning skills a problem ?
@compmom Definitely his scanning skills. His OCD does not “allow” for scanning! We think we might have him join the honors college and drop out if he doesn’t like it.
Every college has an Office of Disability Services – see what documentation/testing would be needed to continue his accommodations through college.
A Disabilities Office generally gives the student a letter to give to professors and often the letter does not list accommodations: the student negotiates with the prof.
It can work well for the family to write up a list of accommodations and put them in the text of a letter sent by a professional (they can sign it) to submit.
Scanning ability can affect research as well as reading and studying. But he is doing well where he is, so maybe it is indeed best to try the honors college, with supports.
He can get an accommodation for extra time on tests/exams from the disabilities office, most likely. Extensions on projects or papers. A separate room for exams. That kind of thing.
Does he have accommodations on the ACT?
The standard for accommodations at college is lower than in high school. They cannot pose undue financial or administrative burdens on the school or substantially change the curriculum.
Thank you @compmom. Sounds like you have a lot of experience with this. Yes, he got extra time on the ACT and scored a 32. He started out really bad with his OCD in middle school and needed a lot of accommodations, but with therapy and medication now just uses extra time on tests (and usually only math). We are thinking that he will like hanging out with the other honors kids, the honors classes will be more interesting than gen ed, and this particular school gives them a lot of one on one support with a professor student ratio of 17-1. So, The courses may be more difficult but he’ll have more support. Would you agree? I started out really worried that it was going to be too much for him, but maybe I’m helicopter-ing.
I would say just be prepared for some increase in symptoms during the transition. I don’t know if visiting campus in the summer helps, or if they have an orientation. It’s hard for everyone but some of our kids have a harder time, obviously…