Ms. Kravets, the former president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, is the co-author of “The K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities Or Attention Deficit Disorder.” She is also chief education officer of the Chicago Scholars Foundation. Ms. Kravets answers questions on college options for those with autism and pervasive developmental disorders.
I have been diligently searching for an appropriate college for my son, who has been diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder but is a high-functioning, advanced placement honors scholar. We have looked at schools within two hours of our home in Long Island, and the only support services that I feel give comprehensive coverage are at Adelphi University. He is against attending a school so close and would really like to spread his wings a bit further from home. Landmark College and Lesley University are too supportive for his level and the other colleges you mention in the article are too far from home. I have scoured your book but still can’t find a program comparable to Adelphi’s within a three to four hour radius. Any suggestions you could provide would be greatly appreciated. — Teresa Simone
My response is given without having seen your son’s transcript, psycho educational evaluation or teacher comments, but I can think of several colleges within a four-hour radius of New York that may be ones your son could explore. Remember that the college should fit academically and match socially. In the K&W Guide there are many colleges all over the country that might be appropriate.
In New York, several colleges come to mind such as Marist College,Manhattanville College, and Iona College. In Connecticut, your son might check out the University of Connecticut and Mitchell College. If Washington, D.C., is not too far, then he might consider American University, which has an outstanding freshman year program. And in Massachusetts, perhaps he can look at Northeastern University, Curry College, or American International College.
These suggestions are made on the assumption that your son is academically prepared for college and that his success might be dependent on a structured program able to provide him with counseling, tutoring, coping strategies and organizational help. You also have the option of hiring an independent coach, graduate student or local high school teacher who might provide additional support on campus. Figure out what is most important for his success and know that this is just the beginning of his journey.
My son has high-functioning autism. He is very bright when he is interested and shuts down when he is not. He understands intrinsically how things work. I know that if I could just find the right niche for him, he would have a lot to offer the world. He’s having difficulty right now with the ninth grade, not because he doesn’t know his subjects but because he isn’t dealing well with the system. Are their places for the extremely bright and eccentric to go to school? — June Milby
Your question is powerful. The good news is that your son is currently a high school freshman and there is time to help him develop the coping skills to be successful. As you search to find a program for “extremely bright and eccentric students,” it is important to be open to non-traditional options.
Your son might thrive at a school that offers an academic program but also provides structure, life skills development, socialization strategies, help with problem solving and decision-making, and guidance on adjustment to life away from family. There are a number of college programs that serve students like your son.
One example would be the New York Institute of Technology Vocational Independence Program (V.I.P.), where students can pursue a degree program while receiving coursework in independent living and social and academic skills. If he can handle the academics, you might want to explore Marlboro College in Vermont where students engage in one-on-one tutorials with professors and work with faculty advisers to design their own individual curriculum. This self-directed approach to a liberal arts education may work for your son.
Keep a running list of the criteria that would be ideal in a college setting for your son. The priorities will most likely change over the next few years, but if you start working now to become an educated consumer, you will be in a much better place when your son is a senior in high school.
Are there some colleges and universities that come to mind as having good disability services offices, both for students with learning disabilities and well as other disabilities? — Vincent Hausmann
You ask a great question. The short answer is that most of the disability offices on college campuses are for all students with any type of disability. Disabilities could be physical or learning related, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sight impairment or hearing impairment.
It is not as common to have just service providers for students with learning disabilities. It is important for students to know what accommodations they need and how extensive the support needs to be in order for them to be successful. Students with physical disabilities need to know about transportation on campus and housing options; those with sight impairment need to be assured they can secure their books on tape or in other formats; and those who are hearing impaired should confirm the availability of the support they will need in their classes based on how they communicate and learn most effectively.
Check out the Web sites for college disability services to get an idea of their mission, eligibility requirements, resources, services and accommodations, documentation required, available academic support, and their policies.
No comments:
Post a Comment