Tips for your Learning Disabled College Bound Child
Your child has just completed a task that so many thought they never would, they finished high school, and graduated. If your child has a learning disability, he or she have surpassed the expected outcome, and is looking for more. This is a wonderful thing, for them as people with a disability, and you as parents that got to view this wonderful feat. You wish to instill some common guidelines in them for college however; this is not the same set of circumstances. When you went to college you were not afflicted with a learning disorder.
This is a time for the disabled to shine, for them to rise out of the general opinion that it is not possible for someone who has a learning disability to go to college let alone finish high school. This unfortunately is not an uncommon opinion in the general public. Society is set on the idea that this condition is one, which hinders all afflicted with it. The fact that someone could possibly make it far past expectation is near impossible. Here are some ideas for the people whom are indeed learning disabled and a re-embarking on a mission to college.
First and foremost, tell no one of your condition if you wish to be treated like everyone else. The moment someone finds out that you are disabled is the moment when things can get downright mean, or even worse humiliating by people offering to help in every conceivable thing that you must do in life. This is a typical learning disorder, not a full-blown situation of mental retardation. No one has the right to know this information about you, unless you deem it appropriate for him or her to know. If you feel the need to tell your professor, then it might be a good idea to pull them aside and tell them in private.
Once you have befriended someone, it might be an appropriate time to tell them about your condition, and any symptoms it may carry. This will be a good idea for a few reasons. One it will let them know in case of any problems with your condition such as odd or sporadic behavior, and secondly it will give you a possibly great study partner, throughout your classes. This is a great method of study, as it will keep you fresh. By them knowing of your condition it will be a little easier in the explanation of certain subject material, rather than just confusing you right from the start, and not looking back assuming you are following them in the whole process. It would be a good idea for you to review your notes on a very frequent basis, this way you do not forget pertinent information on the subject.
When it comes to choosing classes, only take on what you feel you can truly handle. By taking on more than you can do, you basically set yourself up for predetermined failure. You have had enough struggles throughout elementary and middle school, walking you through high school was a challenge as well, why rock the boat? Taking subjects that you excel in are a good step; if you know that you are not very good in a particular subject, and it is not a mandatory credit, it might be best to just avoid it. This is of course if you feel in any way that it may be too much to handle. Pick out your two weakest points, be it reading/ writing, or sentence structure/ languages. Work on these in private diligence. The best way to overcome a learning disability is to constantly challenge it. Making it work to overcome you will in essence be too much of a pain in the rump. The idea of someone with a learning disability attending college is not absurd. It not impossible nor is it a treat or favor. It is a right, and if you have shown the manageable skills and the grade levels required to attend, by all means you should.
Learning disabilities are not really meant to slow anyone down; they are just the facts of life. It happens, and when someone afflicted with this type of disorder, succeeds, it can only be noted as a testament to the will and strength of the rest of our ability, this has nothing to do with learning.
Tags: learning disability, parents