Landmark College competes with Harvard for tuition expenses. However, most students attend for 2-3 semesters and transfer to another college once they have learned strategies for success. Students can be taught on-line, in summer school, or take a traditional semester program. It is a stepping stone with a very high success rate.

Level 2 schools are beginning to catch the attention of many counselors. These schools are colleges that have targeted students with learning disabilities and have specialists that meet with students individually. These learning specialists teach each student specific strategies for their disability, monitor their progress, advocate with college instructors, intervene when they are slipping, and teach them to be independent in a college setting. These programs are usually limited to less than 5% of the student population. These programs also include assessments for placement into academically appropriate classes. There is often an extra fee for these services.

A few schools at this level are Loras College in Dubuque, IA; Morningside College in Sioux City, IA; College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri; and Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. How do these schools differ from other colleges in the area of learning disabilities?

Level 2 colleges have hired specialists in the field of learning disabilities. They have the most current research based knowledge in disabilities and how to help each student according to their individual needs. Many high school students receive tremendous assistance from their teachers in the area of modification only to find that colleges do not do the same. Some Level 2 colleges do.

A student with a learning disability, ADHD or dyslexia can expect a Level 2 college to assist them in getting a formal disability diagnosis, provide books on tape, refer them to Vocational Rehabilitation for funding, mediate between student and instructor, and LD computer software. There is technology now to read books to students. The Kurzweil and Wynn 3.0 computer programs actually read books to students with dyslexia. A book is placed into a scanner and the student can select the voice quality and speed while watching the words on the monitor. Colleges will also provide note takers, books on tape, quiet environment for test taking, reader/scribes for tests, audio taping of lectures, instructor notes and preferential seating. Students may be required to take preparatory classes in math, writing or reading, if needed. Colleges committed to LD student success can only assist a limited number of students so early application is critical.

There are many options today for students with learning disabilities to be successful that were not available 10 years ago. It is up to each student to find the level of assistance that is a custom fit for them.