College? I Have a Mathematics Learning Disability

Thank you for expressing confidence in my judgment but I am not an expert in learning disabilities. I have taught students who battled its problems. So I will share what I know and leave some sites for your study.

I am happy that you have had success in high school so it is not surprising that thoughts for a professional career seduce you. What should you do?

Professional careers require a college education so, "go to college". Set aside your diagnosed dyscalculia (mathematics learning disability) and the accommodations you received that other students did not have: tests printed with special print, assignment times relaxed, test completion times extended, distraction free testing environs, a professionally prepared individual learning program to ameliorate your disability and the support of a corps that protected your rights to the accommodations. They are partly responsible for your success. So use them as your tried and proven guide for success in college.

In 1987 it was estimated that more than 130,000 students with learning disabilities attended college in the United States and the numbers continue to grow. [1] This increase in the number of students with learning disabilities sparked interest in the theory that there is a difference in grade attainment between students with a diagnosis of math disorder and students diagnosed with math disorder in conjunction with other learning disabilities.

A statistical investigation was undertaken and it failed to support the claim that students with multiple learning disabilities that included math disorder would have lower grades than students with math disorder only. This conclusion elevates experience, tutelage, self-efficacy beliefs, support services and other assessment techniques to have a greater role in shaping a students' academic achievement and struggles over ACT alone.

This is great news for a student with mathematics learning disabilities!

So, seriously search of yourself - your beliefs, your desire for success in college. If after your through introspection, you still believe that you are ready to work harder than ever before and you are willing to be the master of your social and academic life, and further if the yearning for a professional career continues to persist, then you are likely to succeed in college.

Many with learning disabilities having so searched themselves, chose college and realized their goal. Since 1985, the number of first time full-time freshmen declaring a disability has doubled for 15 to 32%. [2] Thus more are answering the call to college. More importantly, many have graduated college. And some seek graduate and professional training. [3]

So take this information as your nod to pursue a successful future through a college education. However make your pursuit a sober one. Begin your preparation while in high school. For college will be a new world to navigate. It presents many personal responsibilities and new challenges. No longer will the force of government guarantee an individualized instruction program to ameliorate your disabilities. While your accommodations, may be had, you will have to document their need and secure them. [2,6]

Learning with math disabilities

In the last two decades phenomenal progress has been made to master all aspect of reading. Skills that underlie reading achievement have been identified and charted. Technology allows observation of various parts of an emergent reader's brain as she "cracks the code" to become a reader. This ability "to observe the results of the processing" has proved an invaluable diagnostic tool. It's a miraculous gift that research and technology has granted us for those learning to read.

Unfortunately similar progress in understanding and treating dyscalculia has been less than successful. Assistive technology [4] and some learning techniques have shown some spotty promise. One such technique that enhances middle school students with mathematics disabilities to learn mathematics is the graphical organizer.[5]

Both teachers and students find that this technique of organizing information aids learning mathematics for students with or with mathematics learning disabilities. Graphical organizers have always been in use in mathematics and the sciences to simplify abstract material. You should investigate it as another tool to add to your learning arsenal.

The literature on preparing for college with a learning disability is vast. So, I will make some comments and leave for you the study of the literature for completeness.

The importance of declaring your disability: If finances and time permits, visit the Office of Disability Services of your schools of interest. Explain to them your needs in order to be successful. Inquire about the documents they needed to secure the services you want. Have up to date professionally administered psychological test results (less than three years older), the name of the tests and the evaluation results. A visit gives you a feel for the campus as well as the people in Disability Services. Your sense can provide you valuable information.

The importance of currency in your disability or being a member of a advocacy group for mathematics learning disability: In college you will have to take the role to advocate for your disability, so begin now. Join a group that advocates for mathematical learning disabilities or become familiar with the movement's current terms and trends. The knowledge that you acquire will prove invaluable in your future, if not in college when you ask for reasonable accommodations, then certainly later in your career.

The importance of your college search: Selecting a college or university that fits a student is important for any student. You will spend four years there. If you are not a part of its society, it can be a world of isolation and agony, so look for a stated commitment for the success of its students with learning disabilities. Ask for evidence of successful special programs for social as well academic life? Visit the college and talk to students with learning disabilities (if possible). Probe everything.

The importance of geometry: Ours is a world of rigid objects. Geometry gives rules that govern of rigid things. As important as these rules are, they are not the primary reason a society chooses geometry to be a requirement for the educated.

It is chosen because a premium is place on anyone who can identify, analyze and provide a solution to a problem that is based on facts and accepted rules. Geometry presents its truths using clearly stated rules and previously established facts. One who has internalized its methods will undoubtedly apply them in other venues. This is the primary reason society places extreme premium on learning geometry. Further, geometry is the only high school discipline that provides this kind of training.

Thus you should be no stranger to geometry and her methods. If you have not had geometry, I encourage you to audit a class and become familiar with accepted methods of presenting an argument that persuades. This knowledge will serve you in your profession and as a valuable member of society. An afterthought, one who does not feel at home in the IF -THEN world will have difficult investigating and issue or in presenting a convincing argument to others.

The importance of work experience:

Applying to college requires you to be competitive. For you are seeking a entrance into a world coveted by many others who are equally qualified for selection. So you must put your best foot forward. Work experience is an area where you can demonstrate your initiative. Further it shows you have the value system that society esteems.

A successful work experience, paid or volunteered, shouts you are responsible, a team player, and a dependable person. Further it providing you self-esteem. For these reasons I encourage work experience during the summer months.

The importance of graphic organizers:

Graphic organizers are staples in mathematics and sciences. In the video on equivalence fractions a graphic organizer, cross multiplication, is used to help the learner to remember the definition of equivalent fractions. This organizer uses two cleverly named products and directions to minimize the chance of multiplying the wrong numbers. Yet, the essence of the equivalent fractions definition is preserved.

Maccini and Gagnon [5] define five types of graphical organizers. With practice a student of with dyscalculia can learn to personalize these organizers to their learning styles to recall information she must learn. I encourage you to master how to expressing information with graphical organizers before you get to college. It will take drudgery out of learning mathematics.

The importance of knowing the law: After you graduate from high school, you will no longer have the force of IDEA. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American for Disabilities Acts (ADA) are the Federal laws that protect the rights of a person with a disability. A good starting point to become familiar with these laws is an overview on the law and learning disabilities in this reference. [6]

I wish you memorable college experiences.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Gavin

[1] http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas08/Johnson.htm

[2] An Overview by Vickie M. Barr, Rhona C. Hartman, Stephen A. Spillane, Ph. D
http://www.kidsource.com/Heath/gr.html

[3] Letter to Jay Curtts, 1/26/2010.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Help-College-Grad-1733/2010/1/Learning-Disability-ADHD-GRE.htm

[4] Carolyn Gardner, Assistive technology and Learning Disabilities

http://people.rit.edu/easi/itd/itdv03n2/article6.htm[5] Paula Maccini and Joseph Gagnon. Math Graphic Organizers for Students with Disabilities. http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/mathgraphicorganizers.asp

[6] Patricia Latham, JD., Learning Disabilities and the law: After High School: An Overview for Students

http://www.ldaamerica.org/aboutld/adults/civil_rights/law.asp

[7] College Thought for Students with Learning Difficulties Video copyrite Education-Portal.com http://education-portal.com/videos/College_Thoughts_for_Students_With_Learning_Disabilities_Video.html