A good first step is to encourage them to discuss their learning disability and needed accommodations, if any, with their regular high school instructors. Make sure it is the student s choice to attend college. The most successful college students who have a learning disability or attention deficit disorder are those who have high motivation and a good understanding of their particular strengths and weaknesses. They understand that it may be harder and take more time to manage college-level work. They are committed to spend that extra time studying and to request and use appropriate accommodations when needed.
Testing is done periodically through the high school to update students service needs.
At the postsecondary level, it is the students responsibility to provide documentation of their disability. Most colleges do not have the facilities or the personnel to conduct such testing. If testing information is current, the college may be able to use test results obtained while the student was in high school for decisions regarding programming and accommodations, thus saving the cost of a private evaluation. Current documentation of the student s disability will be needed by the college before accommodations can be provided. Obtain all special testing records before high school graduation.