Is There an Answer to This Question?
As their student starts their search, parents may wonder, “What is the best college for a student with ______ (dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder , or ADHD, auditory processing disorder, etc.)?”
It is a good question to ask, but it’s hard to answer, as even students with the same disability will vary in how it affects them. As a result of these differences, a school that is a good fit for one student with a visual processing disorder may not work well for another. Also – what makes a college a good fit is a combination of factors, so even if one college does a good job of meeting the needs of students with a certain type of disability, differences in what each student seeks in a college may mean it is not a good match for all of them.
What Makes a College a Good Fit for Each Student
It may be more helpful to think about what your student thinks would make a college a good fit, based on their strengths and the impact of their disability. Are they looking for a college with small classes because they learn by listening and asking questions? That can be an easier category to explore. Are they looking for a college where they are doing hands-on learning? This may require more searching.
Many colleges have a combination of large lecture, smaller discussion-based classes, as well as lab-based classes, but there aren’t “special education” college classes designed solely for students with disabilities. And while many professors may provide slides to accompany lectures, they don’t have to do so. Also – many colleges require students to take classes in a range of areas, such as writing, and substitutions may not be available.
I’ve written two articles on what students should consider when composing their college lists (one for Understood, another for my site), including length of the term, graduation requirements, etc. While they are applicable to many students, those with disabilities may need to emphasize them.
What to Know About “Best Colleges” Lists
If you do a search for colleges that are good for students with learning disabilities (LD) or ADHD, you will often find that the lists include colleges offering a fee-based support program. It’s important to know that college disability accommodations are free, so they don’t need to attend one of the colleges that offer a program in order to receive basic adjustments such as extended time for tests, permission to record lectures, etc. (Learn what accommodations disability services (DS) directors say they commonly approve and which ones they don’t.)
Many students will do fine with the basic accommodations available everywhere, so concentrating solely on the colleges with fee-based programs may unnecessarily narrow their search.
Researching Accommodations
Students can use this form I created to do some online research on what accommodations each college offers and to research additional on-campus resources. (Read this post and/or watch this video for advice on what to look at.) Some colleges don’t provide lists of accommodations; others may provide a small list of basic accommodations. This doesn’t mean they don’t provide accommodations, don’t want students to know about them, or that the lists they do provide are complete. Don’t make negative assumptions from what you see (or don’t). Students can call to ask more questions.
Also, be aware that if you know a student who received a certain accommodation at a certain college, it doesn’t mean that another student with the same learning disability or ADHD will be guaranteed the same one if they attend that college.
What might be frustrating is that some DS offices don’t list accommodations by disability type (though some do). This is because the decision about accommodations is an individualized one, based on what DS thinks each student needs. This also means that there probably isn’t a “best” college for students with, for example, ADHD – at least from an accommodations standpoint. (Again, this is because they all have individual needs.) On a positive note, though, if a student can get the accommodations they want at many colleges, this means that they have a lot of good options.
It would be ideal if students could know what accommodations they’d receive at each college. Unfortunately, many DS offices don’t have enough staffing to review the documentation and requests of students who are just applying for admission. That said, it’s always worth asking – they might be pleasantly surprised. They can then use that information to help them make their decision further down the road.
[Be aware that the process of applying for accommodations happens after students are admitted and enroll at a college. Also – what they do or don’t say when applying to college has no bearing on their ability to apply for accommodations once they enroll. Read my book for more on this.]
When to Consider a Fee-Based Program or Specialized College
To return to the subject of fee-based programs – what they typically offer is certain supports that colleges don’t have to provide (and many don’t), such as weekly access to a learning disability specialist. (See what some programs offer.) If students still need of a lot of support, these programs can be a good choice. Families should be aware of the limits of these programs, their expectations for students, and who does and doesn’t benefit from these kinds of programs.
And they should not focus on such a program to the exclusion of other elements that make for a good fit. For example, a college with a fee-based program won’t be a good match for a student who wants to major in neuroscience if the school doesn’t offer it.
There are two colleges that are just for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders – Landmark and Beacon. Their entire environment is specialized and supportive, but students have to like the overall college offerings in order for either of these to be a good fit, just as is true with other colleges.
To circle back to the initial question – I’d posit that there isn’t anyone individual college that is best for all students with the same disability. Each student is an individual, and they should know what they want and need and choose a college based on that list. I see this as positive – this means the range of possibilities may be quite wide!
I have a lot more to say about how students can find colleges that are a good fit.
In Step 5 of my book, you’ll learn:
- components of a good fit (beyond what’s mentioned on my site)
- what disability services offices commonly provide (or don’t)
- why students need to check colleges’ requirements for graduation and specific courses
- what to focus on when looking at colleges’ disability services sites and what you shouldn’t assume based on what you see
- how to choose the right level of support
- search considerations for students with mental health disabilities, physical/medical disabilities, autism, and intellectual disabilities
- what to pay attention to on college visits, and what may not be as symbolic as you think
- available college search resources for students with disabilities
