Daniel,
I think the best we can do in these situations is to be open & demonstrate a willingness to help the students.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have excperienced adult students that are very reluctant to divulge they have a disability at all. Once I notice they are having difficulty with an assignment, lower test scores, etc I meet with the student privately. Most of the time the studnet will end up confiding in me what their diffculty is. Unfortunately most carry a burden of shame, which I work with them to let go of.
Identifying the disability is the most difficult if it has not been identified yet. I also have found that ELL students need extra time on reading and taking tests. So I try to always have enough time for the whole class to do the class without putting "time limits" on tests.
I have had students tell me what they need. Some students are much slower than others and I have allowed more time for them to complete testing. I then assign work after the testing so other students remain busy and my slower students can finish the other work as homework.
It has helped me by making myself available & approachable and my students respond to this.
Understanding the need to be more patient with students that have learning disabilities is the greatest challenge.
Sometime students have no idea that they have learning disability. They think that they need more time to study and extra help. In this case all helpful methods should be used to assist such students.
Khalid,
yes unfortunately this is all too common, especially if they are "borderline." They may have slipped through the cracks so to speak & just always thought of themselves as "stupid" so any help they can get now would be beneficial.
Dr. Ryan Meers
For me, it would probably be what type of disability the student has. I work with college students and fortunately have always been able to determine myself with no problem, have had other instructors give me a heads up, or the student has taken the time to converse with me their problems and needs. I thought this an interesting area, as there were types of learning disabilities I'd never heard of before or at least its name. The percentage of Americans with disabilities was interesting because I'd never really thought of it in those terms. To me, it was a very interesting and learning session.
I think the biggest problem is students not knowing they have a disability and then trying to identify the disability. I do listen for clues they may give such as having difficulty reading the assignment or watching for how a question is answered on a test. If the answer doesn't match the question, watch this to see if they have a problem. It could be that they didn't understand the question or weren't prepared but it could be that they have a disability.
Having children with learning disabilities I feel that I have a firm grasp on their needs. It is important to remember these students can be exceptionally bright and need our encouragement to achieve their full potential.
people sometimes do not want you to know what is that there is a disability until they fail if students would be more upfront with learning issues it would be a good thing for teacher and student alike
I have found that many students with learning disabilities have had negative experiences in the past with former instructors and/or classmates. This is unfortunate and makes it more difficult for me to break through that and assist them.
I find it very difficult when it comes to testing. I can ask each student for a verbal answer and it will be correct. But when I give them a written test, they cannot give a correct answer. I know they know the subject, because they verbalize it. I am going to try the idea of putting the questions in boxes and bold underlines under the math problems. In order to succeed in the career choice they have made, they must be able to comprehend the information that is on paper. This is the one biggest challenges I have faced since I started teaching this program. In every class I have at least 3 or 4 students that say they get test anxiety. I wonder if it isnt some other form of disability.
I agree with the responses so far that finding out about the disability is the hardest part. i would say the the extra time needed can be tricky with adult learners if a larger part of the class is moving at a much faster pace. Students can get inpatient if you get off schedule for a few others.
I find the greatest challenge is with "mild" learning disabilities never identified in K-12. This student is often overlooked in college becasue they didn't know the reason for their struggles. While we as college instructors cannot tell them they have a "learning disability" we can offer tutor help in subjects they seem to struggle with using some resources we know will help them.
For example, websites to add visual aids and give the whole class additional resources. Universal learning design is constructed to include this type of student.
I occasionally get letters from the ADA office to provide certain accommodations to particular students. Now I am wondering whether the few students who get an 'F' may also have some learning disability that they never mentioned. Is it possible that some students may not know that they have a learning disability?
Carl,
I would agree that it seems sometimes our advising process fails the struggling students. As you said they are enrolled in courses or whole programs where their chance for success is very slim.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Deborah,
I think the key is communicating with the student & keeping those lines open.
Dr. Ryan Meers
SOme students are embarassed that they have adisability. I tell them they are not disabled, but differently abled, if they regain self esteem learning is more successful
Getting them to approach me with there situation, so I can help.
