This article was contributed by Stephen S. Strichart, Ph.D., founder of www.how-to-study.com, a free study skills resource site. You will find more than 60 articles and hundreds of study tips at his site.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires colleges to provide appropriate academic accommodations to students with disabilities. But, be aware that a college does not have to seek out and identify students with disabilities. If you have a documented learning disability, you are not required to disclose it to the college. However, you must disclose and provide documentation of your learning disability in order to receive appropriate accommodations.
Types of accommodations typically provided by colleges include:
These accommodations are usually coordinated by the colleges Office of Disability Services. You will find the accommodations very helpful, but they are not sufficient for your success in and of themselves. It is important for you to acknowledge that college will be more difficult for you than for students who do not have a learning disability. This means that you must work harder and plan better than the average student in order to succeed. The suggestions that follow can help you succeed.
Many thousands of students with learning disabilities have succeeded and even excelled in college. By making full use of the accommodations to which you are entitled, and following the suggestions offered in this article, you can be one of them.