Do you suspect you have one?
How might a learning disability affect your performance as a college student?
A Learning Disability is a permanent disorder in which individuals with average to above average intelligence have difficulty processing information. Incoming and outgoing information often gets “scrambled” as it travels between eye, ear, skin and the brain. It is important that these individuals receive and transmit information in a form or modality that works best for them.
How a learning disability may affect students in a post-secondary setting:
- Written language skills are poor
- Words and phrases are reversed or omitted while taking notes in a lecture
- Intense anxiety is experienced during tests
- Student has difficulty sounding out words
- Spelling is poor
- Following and grasping mathematical concepts is difficult
- Memory strategies are weak
- Reading comprehension is poor
- Reading rate is slow
- Judging distances is difficult
- Verbal information is misinterpreted
- Student feels isolated, ashamed, and considers dropping out
A student with a learning disability should:
- learn everything possible about their specific learning disability
- learn how to self-advocate
- forward verification of their learning disability to the Counselor for Students with Disabilities if they choose to self-disclose
- prior to placement testing – schedule an appointment with the counselor for students with disabilities
- schedule appointments regularly with their academic advisor to evaluate progress
- seek assistance as needed in college. It is up to the students to request services
- attend all college classes prepared and on time
- develop good study habits and test-taking strategies
- dedicate themselves to their studies
- persevere to obtain goals
- utilize Visions Program services (i.e. learning disabilities specialist, professional tutors, study skill seminars)
For more information contact:
Stephanie Chancey at (978)630-9431, or email schancey@mwcc.mass.edu.