College AdviceFor the Learning-Disabled

Students with learning disabilities or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder can learn how to find a college suited to their special needs at a presentation in Silver Spring this week.

Nancy Rosenberg, an educational counselor who has been working with LD/ADHD students for 11 years, will offer students and their parents tips about what to consider and how to organize a college search in a program sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County.

First, she says, students need to have current results of tests that document their disabilities because colleges usually require students to provide such documentation to get the special services they need. Rosenberg says almost all colleges are required to provide services for students with learning disabilities, but what's offered can vary considerably. Some offer limited services, such as extended time for taking tests and note-takers for lectures, while others have comprehensive programs that include meetings with counselors who help students develop strategies for studying, test-taking and managing their time. What's important, she says, is that students know what kind of services they need and find a college that offers those services. "Success in college depends on a good match," she says.

Rosenberg says that most students with learning disabilities and ADHD can succeed in college if they get the accommodations they need and if they understand and accept their disabilities.

How to Choose a College for Students With LD/ADHD, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m. Chelsea School, 711 Pershing Dr., Silver Spring. To learn more, call 301-933-1076.

-- Diane Knich