My husband is dyslexic and he has always spoken openly about it in interviews and applications. It is an integral part of who he is and how he sees the world. As a speech therapist and admissions editor, I would be really honored to help any applicants with disabilities write and revise their admissions essays. If you are simply too anxious to sit down and write the application essay, record yourself as you talk to a trusted friend or mentor about your hopes and dreams. Often, the ideas are all there but the format of the application essay is just too intimidating. Remember, you only need to answer the essay question, not write great literature! Visit www.thehonesteditor.com for more advice and help.
Jennifer Millmanof NY8:56PM October 31, 2012
This can work but maybe only to liberal art schools. Why? I have a LD and I applied to a lot of schools that where universities and I got in to 0. I also tried getting in with a sport (rowing) but still did not work out with me. I was a top recruit (d1). Its all about the SAT and thats final! It was a terrible time! I was hoping to get in a bigger school because I could probably get so much more help with using the atheistic Tudors and helpers that are provided for athletes. Also they have a much better academic centers as well. It seemed like a very good thing right? Rejected to all schools - 2. I now go to a liberal arts school, (d3) for rowing and have no help for my academics. I am progressing all by myself there are lots of struggles but I am doing it because thats all I can do. I am alone but i will shove it in everyones face that anything is possible.
Val DiLisiof NJ9:03PM October 14, 2011
Wow, Nancy. Tell me where you work because I want to be sure not to send my child to your school. I think you need either a long vacation or a job change.
Boardermomof CA9:30PM October 07, 2011
My son's BEST teachers, best psychologists, were also LD and believed in him, and realized how hard he worked just to be average. He also is very intelligent. Luckily, I had a kid like him when I taught, so I realized you could be very bright, but still not typical.
Prayers and good wishes for your son. He is needed!!!
Roseof GA8:47AM August 25, 2011
@michelle of nv, I'm not sure why you found this article reassuring. Your child will have MUCH less support post-secondary education than he has in high school. If your child cannot communicate his learning, he may have more trouble with college than high school.
monaof PA11:53PM August 12, 2011
As a disability services professional in a college, I appreciate this article, but do want to say that colleges do not legally have to consider LD or other disabilites in the admissions process - they can, but do not have to. Colleges are alos not allowed to discriminate against individulas with disabilites, but this does not meand that they must have different sets of admissions standards.
Unless you go to a large or specialized school, please do not expect "LD specialists" on staff, and do not expect many professors to have experience working with LD population. The Profs are not indifferent, but they do have standards for classes, and expect students to meet those standards (also legal). The law requires "reasonable accommodations" which do not require the curriculum to be altered to meet the abilities of students. Sorry to be a bummer, but I am often challenged by parents whose child had extensive accommodations in secondary school, and the accommodations do not always meet the definition of "reasonable" at the college level.
Landmark College in Vermont specializes in LD & ADHD students, and has an excellent reputation.
Good luck! We have many successful students with disabilities, and the common factors in all is that they have learned excellent coping, study, and time management skills, and can advocate for themselves when speaking to professors and college staff - skills which will serve them very well when they enter the workforce.
Nancyof FL10:40AM July 01, 2011
Thank you for your insight, as a mother the education system for so long my son who has Aspergars, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, adhd, a mood disorder has failed to grant him "free & appropriate education' been labled horrible nasty and degrading epathats. His ablity to learn & retain information is amazing, but the ablity to relay it back in a timely manner such as written essay questions his dysgraphia/dyspraxia makes it hard to write or coordonate thoughts to paper, in turn his grades suffer not from lack of knowledge but communication so they are not seeing his true potential to learn and discourages him. They only see what he is not doing. He is not lerning disabled in the common sence, he has a learning diffrence, thats why he wants to be a teacher so that he can bring out the potential that every student has when their learning style is addressed, how they obtain the knowledge is not as esental as ablity to know retain and relay it back.
michelleof NV1:20PM June 25, 2011
Yes, thank you for your thoughtful and so true comment. Can you recommend colleges that have strong accommodations for students with dyslexia?
Catherineof NM1:35PM June 21, 2011
Some advantages students with learning disabilities have going for them going into college are, that they know how to work hard on essays. They have already put in long hours preparing essays in high school. They are in some ways tougher. Many are not worried about asking for help when they need it. Many of them also know being nice counts for something. I am dyslexic and have two degree and these are some of the qualities that help me be successful at school.
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john booker of IL 9:46AM November 01, 2012
Jennifer Millman of NY 8:56PM October 31, 2012
Val DiLisi of NJ 9:03PM October 14, 2011
Boardermom of CA 9:30PM October 07, 2011
Rose of GA 8:47AM August 25, 2011
mona of PA 11:53PM August 12, 2011
Nancy of FL 10:40AM July 01, 2011
michelle of NV 1:20PM June 25, 2011
Catherine of NM 1:35PM June 21, 2011
Wayne McFarlane 3:49PM June 16, 2011