Getting In & Staying In: College Admissions and Coaching for LD - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Getting In & Staying In:

College Admissions and Coaching for LD Students

Oakland Technical High School March 2016

Rebecca Field, Ed. M.

Rebecca Field Consulting

rfield@rebeccafieldconsulting.com www.rebeccafieldconsulting.com

Definition of Learning Difference



Neurological condition that interferes with a person’s ability to store, process,

• r produce information. They can affect one’s ability to read, write, speak,

spell, compute, reason and also affect a person’s attention, memory, coordination, social skills and emotional maturity.



Common learning differences include:



Dyslexia



Dyscalculia



Dysgraphia



Learning differences often run in families.



Attention disorders, such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning differences often occur at the same time, but the two disorders are not the same.

Taken from the Learning Disabilities Association of America

Questions for Students to Ask Themselves Can I…

 Articulate my LD, understand my documentation  Prepare myself academically for college  Understand the laws as they pertain to me  Manage my time, study independently  Ask for help before I think I need it  Bounce back when I hit a bump  Understand and accept that self-reliance is gradual  Advocate for myself now

Am I ready?

 Academically

 GPA and transcript trends  College Prep Curriculum



4 English



3 Math (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry), 4 recommended



2 History/Social Science



2 Lab Science, 3 recommended



2 Foreign Language



1 Visual/Performing Art

 Executive Function

 Planning  Organization  Self-Regulation



Sleep



Personal Hygiene



Medication



Food



Time Management

Preparing for the Transition

• 1. Understand the Laws

IDEA

(Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act)



Educational Statute



Governs K – 12 Education. Schools receive federal funding



Free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment



Active parent participation in the IEP (Individual Educational Plan)



Open and active communication with parents/guardians

K – 12 Education: Parents are VERY involved

 Participate in the IEP  Help teachers

understand their students

 Ask a lot of questions  Fight for their students

Things change after high school

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)



Civil Rights Law



Governs post high school



Students are guaranteed EQUAL ACCESS



No IEPs in college. Modifications are not required.



Students control their records & who can access them

• 2. Find Appropriate Schools/Programs

Start early Academic interests (focus on strengths & interests) College? 4-year? 2-year? Gap Year? Work? Level of support Visit a variety of campuses Understand the importance of self-advocacy Always have a Plan A and a Plan B

How can we help?

 Address instructional needs with the student honestly  Encourage experiences outside of the classroom setting  Organize campus visits including visits to the DSS offices  Develop independent living skills early  Use summers wisely

Some Examples



Make an appointment with the person who assessed the student and have her/him explain the testing to the student.



Make sure that the student (not the parent) is talking with teachers if/when school issues arise.



Encourage work/internship experience.



Encourage students to develop and pursue passions. Use summers!



Allow students to “fail” sometimes.

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Make sure students have basic understanding of money, credit, etc.

• 3. Help with the Application Process!

Get Accommodations in Place

 SAT/ACT accommodations  Update neuropsychological testing

after age 16

 This is the student’s process

Decide Whether to Disclose



Is always up to the student



Advantages

 College understands the student and her needs  Student feels in control of her information  Clear and open lines of communication



Disadvantages

 Thinking, “I won’t get in because of my learning difference.”



Can be done in numerous ways

 Personal Statement  Additional Information Section

Get Organized!



Create a file for all college materials



Does your high school have a profile/questionnaire?



Begin visiting



Create a timeline and stick with it



Take standardized tests early and ask for recommendations

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Use the summer to complete personal statement

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Aim to have everything done by Thanksgiving

• 4. Understand the Realities of College

Admissions

Some Recent Statistics

 Most recent statistics coming from the UCs

 12th year of consecutive growth  All 9 campuses saw an increase

 Total number topped 200,000 this year  105,341 California resident freshman applicants  Accepting 5,000 more undergraduate residents

 Match is more important than ever

Statistics Before 2012

(Taken from the National Center for Education Statistics)

2000: 27.3 18-24 year olds 2011: 31.1 million 18–24 year olds

General Population



67% attend postsecondary programs



40% attend 4 year college



32% attend 2 year college



52% completion rate

Students with LD



60% attend postsecondary programs



19% attend 4-year college



44% attend 2-year college



41% completion rate

Believe It or Not It’s a Buyer’s Market!

 4,726 Title IV Degree granting institutions in the US

 1,700 2-year institutions  3,026 4-year institutions

 21 million students in higher ed., 5.7% population

 13 million of those were enrolled full time

 81,000 fewer than in 2010

• 5. Help Students Stay In Successfully

To Know About LD Students’ Success



63% of postsecondary students who were identified in high school as having LD did NOT consider themselves to have LD when they transitioned to postsecondary programs



Of those who did LD identify in high school, only 28% informed postsecondary schools of their LD



88% of LD students who DID receive assistance in postsecondary programs reported the supports as “very” useful

The Post High School Outcomes of Adults with Disabilities up to 8 Years After High School A Report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) September 2011

Important Questions to Ask

 What supports are available on campus?  How can students access these supports?  What coaching opportunities are available?  What are the mental health services?

Some Common Supports

Note takers Extended time on tests Testing in a quiet environment Priority Registration Reduced course load considered full load Access to assistive technology Single room Tutoring

Sometimes more support is available, just ask

Accessing Supports

 Update documentation

 Completed after age of 16  Cognitive and Achievement tests

 Meet with DSS person

 When visiting campus and develop a relationship  After acceptance and before classes begin  Review documentation and agree upon supports

 Dear Professor Letter (send via email)

 At the beginning of each semester/quarter

What Is Coaching

A bridge to independence for those students who have gotten into college, want to be successful there, and need additional personalized support.

How Does It Work & Who Is a Good Candidate?



Individualized meetings – some colleges offer this



Regis, Becker, Southern Oregon University (U*Cam Program)



Mutually agreed upon goals between all parties



Students want to work with a coach and understand the value



Clear and consistent communication with student and family

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Students want to be 100% honest and transparent

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Students/parents trust the coach to work in the student’s best interest

How do you know when it’s working?

Resources



College Board: www.collegeboard.com

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Parents Education Network: www.parentseducationnetwork.org

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Association on Higher Education and Disability: www.ahead.org

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Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: www.chadd.org

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LD Online: www.ldonline.org/

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The College Solution (Financial Aid Information): www.thecollegesolution.com/

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International Dyslexia Association: www.interdys.org/

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US Autism and Aspergers Association: www.usautism.org/



CollegeWebLD: www.collegewebld.com

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Some helpful resource books: Fiske Guide, K & W Guide to Colleges/Universities for LD Students, Cool Colleges for B Students, Colleges that Change Lives, Peterson Guides.

Contact Information

Rebecca Field, Ed.M. www.rebeccafieldconsulting.com rfield@rebeccafieldconsulting.com (510) 816-7755 Office: 401 Grand Ave. Suite 380 Oakland, CA 94610