College Success and LD/ADD

As a college Learning Specialist from 1993-2006 and a current Senior Adjunct Instructor at a community college, I have seen many students with learning differences severely underestimate the unique challenges of college.  Assuming it will be like high school, students unwittingly make poor decisions that often result in low grades.  With low self-esteem from being  labeled in high school, students often misinterpret these grades as lack of ability rather than POOR DECISION- MAKING!

Had they had adequate preparation in high school and learned how to navigate the college system for success, they might have avoided the issues that plague students with learning differences and started out with a strong GPA.

I decided the best approach to this problem is a PROactive one.  I wrote a course, CONQUER COLLEGE WITH LD, for high school students and their parents, which I taught for the first time last semester to a packed classroom.  I am proud to say the course received excellent reviews.  Students and parents were exceedingly grateful to receive information that could dramatically increase chances of college success, especially since no one else appears to be imparting this information.

I will be teaching CONQUER COLLEGE WITH LD again this fall in the Philadelphia suburbs on 10 consecutive Saturday mornings starting September 20th.  However, I have had many inquiries from people unable to attend due to distance.  To address this, I have made two decisions:

1.  I will make my course materials (a comprehensive portfolio that covers all aspects of a successful post-secondary transition and a student workbook containing practice exercises of effective academic strategies) available to those unable to attend.

2.  I will take my course on the road as a seminar for students, parents, and high school instructors. Rather than offering it as 10 one-hour classes, I will teach it over two days, five hours per day, allowing for breaks, lunch and         Q & A.

If you are interested in either of the above options, please e-mail me at TransitionSuccess@gmail.com.  I will be happy to answer your questions and e-mail you a free copy of "25 Rules of College Success for Students with LD".

Incidentally, I have walked in your shoes.  Raising an LD son who completed college successfully has given me dual perspectives.  That fact did not go unnoticed by members of my class who said it increased my credibility, understanding, and empathy.  As for my professional credentials, I have a Masters degree from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania and have worked in the Special Education field for over twenty years.