Students needing support in K-12 schools are often referred to the Resource Room, formerly known as Special Ed. These students have an IEP or 504 if diagnosed. Research is now showing that students with high intelligence may have a learning disability that is causing difficulty and with simple modifications may excel in education. Dyslexia, ADHD, processing problems and other diagnosed learning disabilities are now seen as obstacles that can be overcome with modifications made in the learning process.

Many colleges state that they "assist" students with learning disabilities. This is often not enough for a learning disabled student that could be more successful in a different environment. Students that do not see themselves as capable as their peers have learned to blend in and not ask questions. They are not very pro-active in having their educational needs met and often fail because of this. Some resource teachers are on the cutting edge of research and teach students how to succeed in spite of their disability. Other students are not as fortunate. To succeed in college, an LD student must have specific strategies taught and used with some monitoring. A learning disability does not always equal low ability. "If students don't learn the way we teach them, we must teach them the way they learn."

Assistance to students with learning disabilities at the college level seems to fall into three categories. The first level is a college that offers some tutoring and a learning center with assistants but not specialists in learning disabilities. The second level is a college that offers a "specialist" in the learning disabilities field with close monitoring of the student and teaches them appropriate strategies with close monitoring. The third level is a college that has a mission statement to help learning disabled students succeed at the college level.

Level 1 is appropriate for students who are pro-active and have learned strategies to overcoming their learning disabilities. For students who have already met the challenge of their disability and succeeded, a college that has assistance available when needed could work well for them.

Level 2 is for students who are still working far below their abilities and have not mastered learning strategies. There is a new pool of colleges that are targeting small groups of learning disabled students and work with them on a 1-on-1 basis. These colleges often have a learning specialist in an Office for Disabilities or a Learning Disabilities Program on campus, not merely a Success Center providing occasional tutoring. However, there is yet a higher level of assistance available for LD students.

To be continued.