A College Program for Students with Learning Disabilities
Students with learning disabilities often struggle in traditional
learning environments. Like all college students, CLE students have
assignments, deadlines, papers and tests to complete. Meeting deadlines,
adhering to a specific schedule and following directions are all realities of college
life that students with learning disabilities may find challenging. When faced
with those challenges, students often develop anxiety and lose confidence in
their abilities. At CLE, professionals provide individualized support to help
students meet these challenges successfully and confidently.
CLE helps students with learning disabilities experience success in college
through academic, social and independent living skills support tailored to
their unique challenges. CLE can help students with a variety of disorders
including:
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Non-verbal learning disorders
(NVLD)
- Auditory and visual
processing disorders
- Central processing disorders
- Reading comprehension
disorders
- Spatial disorders
Academic Support
Some students might find it difficult to initiate or follow through on new
projects, so CLE provides help with the college application, enrollment and
registration process. This support continues throughout the college journey,
and students with learning disabilities receive assistance that helps them
acquire study skills, learn time management techniques and cope with test
anxiety. CLE academic liaisons advocate for students with disabilities and help
them get the proper support in class.
Independent Living Skills
For some CLE students, living in an apartment is the first step toward
mastering specific independent living skills. CLE’s independent living skills
instructors teach students organizational methods, decision-making skills and
other executive function techniques through direct supervision and
encouragement. Students learn how to keep a clean apartment, pay bills and use
public transportation. One tactic for teaching these skills is the use of
visual cues. For example, students learn to create diagrams of their cupboards
so they know how to arrange the contents when putting away dishes. Or students
may approach a project through a series of simple steps. Those steps may be
written down and posted where the task is to be completed. Completing simple
steps provides an opportunity for students to feel a sense of accomplishment
and gain confidence as they learn new skills.
Social Skills Support
Making lasting, meaningful friendships is often a challenge for students
with learning disabilities. CLE offers social skills support to help students
communicate with each other and acquire basic problem-solving skills that will
serve them in a variety of social settings. Students and mentors practice age-
and situation-appropriate responses through facilitated interaction. Practicing
social interaction in a safe environment helps students learn to regulate
emotions and responses to situations in real-life social settings. Practicing
these skills also helps students develop confidence and can lead to new and
lasting friendships. In turn, the acquisition of social skills helps students
manage stress and cope with new experiences. CLE prepares students with
learning disabilities for enjoyable social interaction through planned and
unstructured group social activities reinforced by personal attention and
interaction with their CLE mentors and peers.