Undiagnosed Learning Disorders
I have only ever had one student approach me with official paperwork regarding their learning disorder. It indicated that I was to allow extra time for the student when taking an exam.
This was a highly motivated student, committed to their own success. Turned out that they did just fine within the normally allotted time. However, many of their fellow classmates were clearly suffering from their own difficulties, but there seemed to be no formal awareness or remedy in place.
Do you have any recommendations for what might be done to help students who seem to be working at a disadvantage of which they are yet unaware?
Bernadette,
this is a great example of what can happen when students are willing to seek help & we are willing to give it.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have two students that have a minor time issue. They both brought it to my attention early on and there has been no problems.
I had a student that came to me at the very beginning of her first course with me and tell me she was worried, because she had issues with learning. Her biggest worry was being able to retain a great deal of information for an exam. I told her it would be ok and we would work together to get it her through the next 5 courses she would have with me. I was able to convince her to relax and enjoy what we were learning and to just take a deep breath and have faith in herself. She left with a 4.0 GPA. She worked so hard and in the end was so proud of herself. It was wonderful to see that convince show through.
Eric,
this is correct. I do believe that if we show our students we want to help them & demonstrate our concern this will encourage them to open up to us.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
My institute has a policy that we are not to approach a student about a disability we think they may have. The student needs to approach you with the issue, and once he does it opens the door. I know there are some legal issues behind this policy. Even though as educators we certainly have strong suspicions about the need for accomodations, we are not actually qualified to make an assessment.
