Colleges for smart kids with learning disabilities

[Anonymous]

My kid is bright with very slow processing speed and poor executive functioning skills. She works hard and does very well in her honors and AP classes. Her teachers like her. But she needs accommodations (extra time, small group testing, anxiety management), which have enabled her to succeed at her huge MCPS W school. We're looking for colleges within 3-4 hours of home that are supportive of students with learning disabilities. Her WGPA is 4.7 and she will probably go test optional. She'll be a senior next year. TIA.

[Anonymous]

Order The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences on Amazon. It’s sorted by state and I used it along with the Fiske guide to identify schools for my ADHD student with EF challenges. And I tried to visit the disability services office at every school we toured!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Order The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences on Amazon. It’s sorted by state and I used it along with the Fiske guide to identify schools for my ADHD student with EF challenges. And I tried to visit the disability services office at every school we toured!

Thanks! I'll order it. Were there any you toured that really stood out?

[Anonymous]

I think it would depend on the major that she wants. Mine wanted engineering, so it was a little harder to find schools with good supports, but I would definitely look at smaller schools. The mid-size schools, particularly the Jesuit schools, seemed to have good learning supports. We also hired an executive function coach.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know, which you probably do, every school is bound by law to give the child 504 accommodations (for now, anyway). My LD kid was at a small private college and transferred to a large public. The large was actually better about accommodations. It is not a good place for a kid without the EF to be independent, though.

Your search will depend on which accommodations are needed (how much. Handholding for lack of a better terminology). Some schools that hand hold more may not be as academically challenging for a very bright kid.

[Anonymous]

I think small and mid-sized colleges that prioritize undergraduate education would be better than huge RI universities where your kid may be taught by grad students in lecture classes of 100+ students.

I'd look at American, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and William & Mary to start.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend joining the FB group:

Parents of College Bound Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD and ASD

[Anonymous]

Syracuse has a wonderful LD program!
All the accommodations that you listed, were there at the time I was there ('86-'90).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Syracuse has a wonderful LD program!
All the accommodations that you listed, were there at the time I was there ('86-'90).

I still recommend Syracuse even though it is not as close as you would like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think small and mid-sized colleges that prioritize undergraduate education would be better than huge RI universities where your kid may be taught by grad students in lecture classes of 100+ students.

I'd look at American, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and William & Mary to start.

Scratch W&M. I have a kid there with ADHD who does not need accommodations at this point. She says if she did, she’s be in trouble. Love the school. But it’s a hard a## about ADHD accommodations.

Sent a different ADHD kid who needed more accommodations Oberlin and was very pleased with how the school handled it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think small and mid-sized colleges that prioritize undergraduate education would be better than huge RI universities where your kid may be taught by grad students in lecture classes of 100+ students.

I'd look at American, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and William & Mary to start.

Scratch W&M. I have a kid there with ADHD who does not need accommodations at this point. She says if she did, she’s be in trouble. Love the school. But it’s a hard a## about ADHD accommodations.

Sent a different ADHD kid who needed more accommodations Oberlin and was very pleased with how the school handled it.

Uh-oh. My kid with SLD and ADHD just committed to W&M! She was sold by the size, campus, and undergrad focus. I’ve just started working with the accessibility office but I’ve been encouraged so far. I’ll report back once I’ve got more data.

[Anonymous]

My DD with ADHD is doing well at Juniata College. The biggest help has been a dedicated executive function coach (who is also a psychology professor). Professors have generally been very flexible and accommodating.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been very happy with GMU for our student with this profile. Their office of disability services is responsive, and the honors college provides a smaller campus experience on a big campus Class sizes aren’t too big, and professors and advisors are accessible. Lots of opportunities on campus to join groups, do volunteer work, research with professors, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been very happy with GMU for our student with this profile. Their office of disability services is responsive, and the honors college provides a smaller campus experience on a big campus Class sizes aren’t too big, and professors and advisors are accessible. Lots of opportunities on campus to join groups, do volunteer work, research with professors, etc.

Good to know, thanks. I’ll look into it.

[Anonymous]

My abysmally low processing kid with ADHD and mild autism is happy at George Washington University. He had a 4.6 wgpa, took a dozen AP courses, got a 35 out of 36 on his ACT, and was given merit aid. The Disability Office gave him double time on exams, like he had at Walter Johnson, as well as a single room with private bath for his autism.