College living experience sounds incredible. I cannot find any prices on the website ..... means I cannot afford it.

Son is a junior, struggling but smart. Does anybody have direct experience with pathways program at NVCC? He really wants to go to college and that looks like his immediate option.

For anyone who is exploring options for supports and services for college students with learning disabilities, please feel free to email me at japrice@experiencecle.com I work at College Living Experience in Rockville, and we provide wrap-around supports in academics, social skills, independent living skills, and career development. Most of our students are taking two classes per semester at Montgomery College while attending our program and living in nearby apartments with our support. Happy to answer any questions.

Janet Price, Regional Director of Community Education and Transition, College Living Experience, Rockville

We weren't sure our DS could manage college, given his anxiety and learning disabilities, be we, like OP, really wanted him to have the college experience.
He went to a small, highly supportive college with a specialized support system for kids with LDs. There were some bumps in the road but he graduated with a degree and has a job.
The thing that was hardest for me to realize is that kids with LDs grow up to be adults with LDs. His issues are all still there even with the college degree. But he has a group of friends just like himself-they are out there-and we are proud of him.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the great thing about college is you don't have to take classes that aren't your strength anymore. When you are looking at schools ask about graduation requirements and pick one that fits. I went to a large state school and never wrote a paper longer than a page in 4 years. There was a math requirement for graduation, but kids who sucked at math took math for business majors instead of calculus.

If your kid is an avid reader and can do well in history and english, he can get thru. make sure the school has a learning center for disabled students which can help with things like a notetaker, extra time, etc. most schools have this now due to the ADA.

I wish that had been true for our DC. He just can't write papers. The analytical part is too difficult. We even worked with the Office of Disability Services at DC's university to try and locate classes without papers. And then suddenly there is a 10 page paper due. There was even a paper for a 1 credit safety on campus class.

Community College as noted let's one see how one might be able to get the further education one needs for a job/ career in as flexible a way as possible. Not every one is suited to a 4 year program. It is a reasonable way to see what the level of support needs are. It is certainly the way to go if one has a definite weak subject area, but otherwise does well so if say a math or science sequence is going to be required in an overall four year college program, but will not be the focus area of one's career goals, get it out of the way at a cc. For some it might mean just a course or two to get through it or a grade to transfer.
For others a blend of working or volunteering and college classes might be best way to start. If a disability is severe enough in terms of handling pressure, executive functioning etc. a reduced course load might alway be the way to go.
Finally, while the idea is often how a cc can be a starting point in college education, remember it can also be the "landing site" for one who flounders in a more traditional setting or even graduates, but is unable to find a job. In tiday's world, it will come down to a job if not a career, and there is no one right way to get there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:community college

No. There is not support at community college. Yes, some but just like regular colleges the student has to seek out. There is nothing special about sending struggling kids to CC. I don't know why people always say this. I was an academic advisor at one and it is a very independent, often lonely experience as most kids there are in/out for classes or in/ out for one or two semesters. There can be a sense of community but ironically it is the highly successful kids who were that way in HS already.

CC are great for are strong academic students, highly motivated students who want to save money and/ or would-be strong students who matured later and now understand the importance of studying harder and getting good grades.

You have to self- manage even more in a CC! Colleges with services like Muskingum, West Virgina Weseleyan, Curry, etc. they build the supports in and you are monitored. You are not monitored at a CC. Additionally, You may not have a peer group at a CC to motivate you and make you want to at least do well enough to stay or stay on the sports team, etc.

I have a similar DC so have done a lot of research and having worked at a CC, I Offer these as my opinions only and not to offend anyone. Best of luck.

NOVA has a great program called Pathways. OP- check it out.

Anonymous wrote:community college

+ 1. That transition to college can be very difficult for SN kids. And be prepared for the realization (you mentioned family) that your child may never marry. Go community college and if that works transfer.

Anonymous wrote:

If your kid is an avid reader and can do well in history and english, he can get thru. make sure the school has a learning center for disabled students which can help with things like a notetaker, extra time, etc. most schools have this now due to the ADA.

Community college is a great way to to continue education and test the waters. Prices are more reasonable, and you can take classes that would transfer to a four year degree, or classes that would earn you an associate degrees. There are MANY more jobs requiring associates degrees than there are 4 year degrees. There are so many to choose from, and many are paying very well. Make use of the career counseling center as well and build on strengths and interests. I'm betting reading skills will get your child a long ways in college!

I have a friend who's son barely graduated from high school with much help, pushing and prodding. He was in the top 10% of his class in community college when he could finally study what he was interested in!

I would also recommend sending him to academic summer program at one of the colleges. See how he does away from home with subjects that he likes.

Anonymous wrote:community college

No. There is not support at community college. Yes, some but just like regular colleges the student has to seek out. There is nothing special about sending struggling kids to CC. I don't know why people always say this. I was an academic advisor at one and it is a very independent, often lonely experience as most kids there are in/out for classes or in/ out for one or two semesters. There can be a sense of community but ironically it is the highly successful kids who were that way in HS already.

CC are great for are strong academic students, highly motivated students who want to save money and/ or would-be strong students who matured later and now understand the importance of studying harder and getting good grades.

You have to self- manage even more in a CC! Colleges with services like Muskingum, West Virgina Weseleyan, Curry, etc. they build the supports in and you are monitored. You are not monitored at a CC. Additionally, You may not have a peer group at a CC to motivate you and make you want to at least do well enough to stay or stay on the sports team, etc.

I have a similar DC so have done a lot of research and having worked at a CC, I Offer these as my opinions only and not to offend anyone. Best of luck.

Anonymous wrote:DS has various LDs but it boils down to extremely slow processing and an inability to teach himself. As a junior in a mainstream private school with appropriate suports in place (extra time to take tests) he is truly a C student but with aall the extra help has about a 2.8 average. He is an avid reader so can handle his world history/us history/english classes but Alg ii and chemistry require some serious tutoring. His social skills are excellent and he can debate like a master. His struggles truly are accessing new complicated material. I want him to have the college experience. It looks like he may be able to play his sport in college, likely Division 3 level, so I am confident he will be able to enjoy a community in college. I just dont know if he can perform academincally and want it for him so much. Like all of us, i have lived some of his struggles and want him to grow into a happy, socially conscious man who will be able to provide for his eventual family. I am wondering if a Drexel pre professional program is possible or a MD or VA small private school wouldmhave enough supports in place.

The great thing about college today is there are so many services available. If he is a student athlete, I would encourage you to include that in the search. There are a lot of dedicated support structures for student athletes. The team will also provide some structure with commitments for practices, games, study sessions.

Depending on your resources, you might consider having him start at a local community college where he could get any required math or science classes out of the way and then look to transfer to a college with strong LD supports. Alternatively, you might have him try one of the colleges which is closer to home so that you might be able to keep tabls on his progress the first semester and help him apply as a transfer to a school that may have been his first choice.

Since he is only a junior, you will do DS a world of help if starting this summer you make sure he is assuming his share of duties at home and learns activities of daily living that can often throw off even a student without LDs in college life such as doing his laundry, cleaning up a room, learning to make a few basic, nutritional meals, time management of his daily life and perhaps budgeting. It is great that he has good social skills because that is often a barrier.

Other schools in the Boston area are Curry College, where one of my nephews just finished up and they have a pal mentor program of some sort. I will say he came out and got a job with responsibility, challenge, option for four bonuses first year and health insurance etc. It combines his 8 years in a retail food store along with his communications/media major there. Another school is Lesley College in Boston where I know a girls who went to school in her late 20s transferred to as a junior to complete her education and is going on to get a masters degree at least. She did her first two years part-time while working as a teaching assistant in our public schools.

The main thing is to explore the various schools in depth - maybe see if any school might have a summer sports program your son could go to or other short stay option this summer. There are also college guides that have information on supports. Things to consider are could a reduced load of 12 hours be considered with perhaps a May course or summer school course at a community or local area DC or online course be accepted for some credit. Is there pressure to finish in four years or could an extra semester or year be an option to just plan for if needed.

community college

Two colleges known for their LD accommodations are AU and Denver University.