Does anyone have any working knowledge

[Pamela H in Texas]

about the services available at colleges for special needs students?

We have a pretty good community college 2 towns over. I was on their website trying to see what they offer for students who just need something different. Seems that many of these students may do well in their area of study but have to get through the liberal arts courses for any Associates or Bachelor degree. THAT seems like it could be problematic.

The website isn't very clear what services are available, just very clear that qualified students can get services.

But how does a student that has trouble with a high school history manage a college history that is more indepth and in half the time? What if they are incapable of the more abstract thinking of literature? What if they have a significant speech impediment that makes a communications course difficult? And the list goes on.

Just wondering how it REALLY works.

[Virginia in Tx]

They had a seminar on this at our local community college (Collin County). They said they offer adaptations but not modifications. This means that they will provide extra time on tests, testing in private rooms, class notes, etc. but they will not change or modify the curriculum (no shortened reading assignments, no alternate tests, etc.) They also provide extra tutoring and study skill classes. You can call the disablity center at your local college - I think all colleges must have one but not sure they all offer the same level of help. Our community college also allows students to take less classes and still be considered a full time student. The student must provide full testing (proving a disabliity) that is less than 3 years old.

There is also a program in Austin for kids with special needs who want to live away from home. It is probably too expensive for us - but we will see.

http://www.cleinc.net/locations/austin.aspx

[GVA]

I've been a part-time CC professor for ten years now, and the colleges I've worked for have handled that in their Student Affairs/Student Success office. The student has to have a letter from a professional qualified to make such an evaluation, and then the college determines what is a reasonable accomodation and gives the student a letter that explains what the college will do for them. The student is responsible for giving each professor a copy of their letter, or they can coordinate with the college to do that. I have to accomodate whatever is listed on the letter. In the past that's meant untimed tests, bringing in a notetaker, etc.

From what I've seen, the larger CC's provide more services this way, sometimes actually having notetakers and ASL interpreters on staff. The CC I work for now had hoped to expand what they can do this year, but the budget just isn't there.

[JennW in SoCal]

Just chiming in here as we're just entering this phase of life with my oldest.

My 17yo has an IEP through the school district that lists the accomodations he is allowed to have given his diagnosed learning disabilities. His accomodations include extra time for tests and having note takers or getting printed material form his teachers. Technically it isn't an IEP, but a 504, and it can follow him to college where he should be allowed the same accomodations. Our first stop this spring at the local CC is going to be at the Diabled Student Services department to find out exactly what services are available to him and how he should go about advocating for himself.

Community colleges offer several different programs, some are academic and focus on covering transfer credits for 4 year universities, and others are professional certificates which focus on skills. My ds faces the problem you describe, that the abstract aspects of the required courses in a liberal arts education are really hard for him. The cold hard fact is that there is no way around those required classes for an AA much less a BA. But, he could easily handle the requirements for a professional certificate in his field of interest.

For your situation, definitely start by contacting disabled student services at your local CC. You can find out not only what kind of help there is on campus but learn if you need an existing paper trail of IEP evaluations and outside diagnoses.

I'll have more "working knowledge" by the end of next month, as visiting the local CC is high on our "to do" list!

[Cadam]

A guy I know has severe ADHD. The university pays another student to take notes for him, he gets extra help with homework and longer on tests. He is also helped by being a guy in a female dominated field (child psyc). He is surrounded by these very motherly young ladies who have made it their goal to get him to graduate school! They stop discussions and study groups to make sure he is following the conversations and knows what is going on. Good friends make a big difference.