Varying types and level of disability, combined with personality make every LD student different. Some LD students may thrive with minimal accommodations. For them, college size or class size may be more critical than the level of support provided. Other students may require a higher level specialist provision. Careful school selection should be based on individual needs and preferences, following campus visits and discussions with staff.
In addition to standard application requirements, prospective LD students must provide a recent professional assessment and diagnosis. This will describe the disability and the limitations it imposes and identify the accommodations needed. Schools may also require cognitive aptitude test results, a personal statement and the most recent Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. Misericordia University's ALP, which accepts just 60 students annually, requires three letters of recommendation from educational professionals.
Pennsylvania colleges providing the highest levels of LD support fall into two categories. The first offers support through a centralized disability office and specialist tutors. Such institutions include Muhlenberg College (muhlenberg.edu) and the universities of Clarion (clarion.ed ), Edinboro edinboro.ed ), Bloomsburg (bloomu.edu), and West Chester (wcupa.edu). Alternatively, the state's catholic colleges have pioneered the provision of specialist LD programs. Pennsylvania's first was the Alternative Learning Project (ALP), begun at Misericordia University (misericordia.edu) in 1979. Similar provision is now provided at King's College, Wilkes-Barre (kings.edu) and in Erie at both Gannon University (gannon.edu) and Mercyhurst College (mercyhurst.edu). In addition to their Learning Differences Program, Mercyhurst offers specialist provision for Autistic students.
Students in these specialist programs receive personalized tutoring in addition to LD support, but enrollment incurs additional fees. Arriving on campus one week before other students, freshmen at Misericordia ALP participate in "Bridge"--a week of assessment, orientation and learning strategy training. Students thereafter attend regular college classes, but with a reduced credit load. Learning strategy coaching continues through the first eight weeks. LD students at Gannon receive similar coaching throughout the freshman year. At King's, learning strategy training is offered on a first come, first served basis. LD students may enroll in these colleges without joining the special program--receiving a level of disability support without charge.
In these colleges, LD students enroll alongside their non-disabled peers and are responsible for making the college aware of their special needs. On providing documentation supporting their request for support, students will be eligible for accommodations. As within the specialist programs, accommodations include extended times for assignments, reading or scribing for exams, assistive technology and the provision of textbooks in recorded or computerized formats. West Chester's LD students also receive early orientation and coaching in time-management, self-advocacy and study skills. These provisions do not incur additional fees. At Edinboro, students may also apply for occupational therapy services.