A child with learning disabilities, ADD or ADHD, or social-developmental issues, faces many frustrating challenges and pressures. The resulting feelings of isolation and despair may keep a child from reaching his or her full potential. Finding a college or school that provides the best set of tools that meet your student’s individual needs can lead to increased self-confidence and a positive attitude toward the future.
The Difference Between IEP and 504 Plans
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) levels the playing field for students with physical and learning disabilities. Parents of students who are not making progress in their public K-12 school can request a psycho-educational evaluation, at the district’s expense. This may lead to your school district to voluntarily agree to examine your child’s eligibility for accommodation under Section 504 of IDEA. If your child is eligible for “IEP” or “Individualized Educational Plan”, the teachers, guidance counselor, parents and student will meet regularly, to discuss accommodations specific to your child’s learning needs. Note that IEPs stop once students graduate high school. In college, no longer will parents be able to advocate for their child, which is why students need to attend their own IEP meetings, hear what is being said about them, and take responsibility for their learning progress. In college, any accommodation is rendered under Section 504 plans.
LD Accommodations in College
While all public colleges must offer some level of learning support for students with learning disabilities, some colleges like Lynn University in FL or Curry College in MA offer a complete learning support program. A “complete” program will have a learning specialist who arranges for individualized support services. See Claire’s blog article: The Three Levels of Learning Services in College for more information.
What We Provide for LD Families
Parents ask us about schools and colleges that can help their student with learning disabilities. A diagnosis is not a label. It’s just what students need to know so they can embrace who they are. Learning challenges impact students’ self-esteem. They want to learn but there are roadblocks in the way that cause frustration. The more they understand their learning differences the better they can gain the tools to deal with those differences. We teach students to advocate for themselves and ask for the support they are entitled to receive under an IEP or a 504 plan. At Educational Avenues we place students in schools where they can grow and thrive.
LD families receive:
- One-on-one student coaching on Zoom.
- Personality and strengths assessment.
- Review of psychoeducational evaluation results.
- Advice on which specific additional tests will clarify student’s educational and clinical needs.
- Continual meetings with parents to appraise them of progress.
- Coordination with other counseling professionals in the student’s life.
- Customized education road map.
- List of appropriate boarding schools, programs, colleges.
- We help with applications, personal statements, interviews that result in acceptance into appropriate schools.
- Contact us to learn more.
Our families rely on the guidance, research, and direct contact we have developed with schools, learning specialists, and college support centers over the last 20 years. The culture of the school toward learning disabilities is the single most important predictor of stress. Our goal is for each student to learn in a place that understands their learning disability so they can achieve successful independence.
