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College & Work   |   Post-High School Options   |   Rights & Accommodations
Accessing Support Programs in College
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By NCLD Editorial Staff
Published: February 26 2009
Being a beginner all over again is tough - whether you're starting a new job or the first year of college. Here are some tips on finding the social and academic support you'll need.

Social


  • When you're faced with a whole new group of people at freshman orientation, remember that they're in the same boat you are. Take part in orientation activities. Join an intramural team or extracurricular activity to meet people who share your interests.
  • If you live in a dorm, make sure to meet the Resident Advisor (R.A.) assigned to your floor. The R.A. is the person who usually organizes social events throughout the semester. Your R.A. can be great source of information and a good listener when you have questions or concerns or when you just need to talk.
  • At the start of college, you may want to stay in touch with high school friends and close relatives with whom you can talk and share the ups and downs of your new experiences. Remember that these are people who care about you. They want to share in both the good things and the not-so-good things you may be going through. Talking to or emailing these folks can be comforting as you experience many new things for the first time.

Academic

 

Establishing effective systems to manage time and ensure productivity can be the single most important steps you take. The pressure of trying to stick to a schedule can be stressful. It may take great effort, flexibility and practice to find systems that works for you. Consider the following steps:

 

  • Schedule an individual session with a research librarian at your university's library. Library staff are usually skilled in researching specific topics, and they can suggest reference techniques and show you effective ways to do research online.
  • Attend an orientation session and become familiar with the computer center at your school. You may need to schedule individual time with a support technician to learn about specific equipment available in the center.
  • Get involved in a study group. If you decide that meeting with the group is helping you learn, stick with it.
  • Visit the Disability Support Services (DSS) office at your school. Getting to know DSS support staff early in the semester will help you access support when it is most needed, perhaps later in the year school .The DSS office can help coordinate more specialized support like submitting and negotiating requests for Glossary Link accommodation and working through problems with specific courses.
  • Look into getting a note-taker or tutor. Tutors are usually volunteers who agree to help students who need assistance in specific subjects. The DSS office recruits and matches tutors to students according to the individual student's needs.

 

 

 
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15 Comments

  1. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  2. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  3. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  4. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  5. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  6. Hi, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and until recently my course administrators and instructors accommodated me because of my learning disability by providing me with double time on quizzes, as my legal documentation states. However, now they have denied me and other students with LD's our right to have extended time on our quizzes because they stated that it was "too difficult" for them to accommodate us. As though it is not difficult to born with a permeant disability! Anyways I was hoping that someone could please provide me with advise? And any information on my legal rights would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    Posted by: Joshua on Friday, 13 January 2012

  7. My parents paid $1000 for my educational assesment in the 1980s to find out why I could not read in 4th grade. I have since learned to deal with my reading and math issues, employ tricks to stay focused (along with meds). It took almost 10 years for me to finish my undergrad degree, so keep plugging along one class at a time if needed. During regular semesters, I enrolled in 12 hours, went to classes the first week, then dropped one based on the workload, if it was too much. I am now half way through law school. I still modify my workload by taking summer school. College and life are all about sticking with it, so don't give up on your dream.

    Posted by: Christina on Wednesday, 11 January 2012

  8. I am a student at UNLV. I am with Ashley on her frustration. Bottomline, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) is cash strapped and finding ANY excuse possible to either NOT accommodate or kick those of us (me!) out of the program for which we were already in and approved for. "All of a sudden" my file is reviewed, and "I've been over accommodated" and told "you don't show need for this/that" yet the director is HOLDING THE REPORTS IN HIS HANDS!! I know what they say, they are about me and were thoroughly reviewed with me when performed AND reviewed by the DRC counselor I was originally assigned to. The problem is there is a new sheriff in town and he's looking to cut his numbers! The counselor who original reviewed my needs and made my accommodations has left UNLV (smart guy) and has moved on to become the Director of Disability Resources at MAJOR university in the mid-west (and might I perhaps add at this point, REAL university)

    Posted by: Michelle Hulin on Wednesday, 02 November 2011

  9. I am the Director of Disability Services at a community college. I often ask students to complete an updated psycho-educational assessment. Why, you ask? Because very few college instructors have any idea about learning disabilities. This is actually the biggest difference between high school and college. In high school, all of your teachers had training, expertise and knowledge in this area. In college, very few do. In college, the instructors are "subject matter" experts. So the updated assessment is to help us help you. It will give us information on how to support your activities in the classroom, with tutors and during testing. If you indeed have a Math disability, there are a number of things we can offer you to support your academic success. Does the community you live in have a Graduate Program in Psychology or Educational Testing? Often they will do it for far less than a private practioner. I, also refer my students to the local Vocational Rehabilitation Office.

    Posted by: Jacquie Stanton on Monday, 10 October 2011

  10. Can anyone with an L.D. ever get a substitution for math? Why is this such a hot topic for staff in the student disabilities department? Is it really because they know students that can't do the math will pay for the course over and over and over and over again? It sure appears that way. Isn't math one of the main reasons why people never graduate with a degree?

    Posted by: undisclosed on Sunday, 07 August 2011

  11. This is my third attempt at college. I cannot seem to get through the math. I am 50 years old and getting to tired to fight the red tape and the thick political bureaucratic educational system. I have a diagnosed learning disability, and was in special education as a child. I paid a $1000.00 for statistics last semester and got an F, it went into appeals for a year, and still is in appeals, I didn't get the accommodations promised by the college. I just don't know what to do anymore, I am ready to just give up on college. What a bunch of crap. They won't substitute math for me because they say that I don't have the proper paperwork. I have an L.D. and anxiety, I have tried three times with the math. Any help?

    Posted by: Undisclosed on Sunday, 07 August 2011

  12. Ashley--I am very sorry to hear your experience with financial aid has been so negative. Have you ever had the chance to meet directly with someone at the Disability Services Office at your school? They might be able to understand your situation better than the folks at financial aid. I also would recommend using our Resource Locator to locate some resources in your area that may be able to help you with finding options for affordable testing. Your local chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association may be able to help you out with this. Good luck and I hope you're able to get back to school with the supports you need.

    Posted by: Kaleigh (NCLD Staff) on Friday, 22 July 2011

  13. We had problems from the beginning at Ivy Tech Community Fort Wayne, IN. they said in order to get Learning Disability Assistance I would have to be tested and the testing costs $700.00-1000.00 dollars my parents didn't have the money for the testing. So I attempted to do college anyways. Now Ivy Tech has suspended my financial aid and I appealed this but they won't accept my appeal due to not passing a General Education class Math 023. They don't even tell you in advance what they are doing they just put you on academic suspension for 1 semester and when you finish the suspension and enroll for classes they inform you they have suspended your financial aid. I was in Special Classes all during High School, but when I gave the college my IEP they wouldn't accept it. I don't know what to do I can't get back in college without financial aid and I have no work skills to find a job. Ivy Tech has destroyed my life and I am helpless to do anything about it...

    Posted by: Ashley Clark on Thursday, 21 July 2011

  14. Accessing Support Programs in College
    I have the same problem. Please let me know if their is help for us.

    Posted by: Nancy Miller-Hoerr on Thursday, 18 November 2010

  15. Accessing Support Programs in College
    I am currently attempting to attend community college in Las Vegas, NV. I am trying to gain assistance from my disability center at college of southern Nevada. They have recommended that I be retested for my learning disabilities. The only problem is that everywhere I have checked out is $700 or more. I was wondering if your agency has any available resources in Las Vegas that might be able to help me. I graduated high school officially in 2004. I also am having difficulty funding my education. I was wondering if you know of any scholarships or other assistance for me. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide me. Thank you, Crystal Caron

    Posted by: Crystal Caron on Thursday, 07 October 2010

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We invite your comments on this article, but we are unable to answer personal questions. If you have a question, you may find these LD.org resources helpful: Resource Locator; LD Basics section; Frequently Asked Questions.
 
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