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Supporting LD/ADHD Students with College/Post-Secondary

Selection

2017 Groves Academy LD/ADHD College Fair

Clare RoneyCareer and Post-Secondary Counselor,

Groves [email protected]

September 26, 2017© 2017 Groves Academy. All Rights Reserved.

MISSION We build confidence, success, and purposethrough transformative learning experiences

VISION To redefine the way our nation is taught, one student, one teacher, and one school at a time

VALUESAuthenticity – Collaboration – Compassion

Discovery – Tenacity

© 2017 Groves Academy. All Rights Reserved.

Our Strategic Programs

THE LEARNING CENTER

OUR SCHOOL

INSTITUTE FOR

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

OUR SCHOOLGroves Academy is Minnesota's only school serving students in grades 1-12 with dyslexia, ADHD, and other executive functioning challenges.

Our school touches the lives of more than 260 students each year.



OUR SCHOOL

INSTITUTE FOR


THE LEARNING

CENTER

THE LEARNING CENTERThe Learning Center at Groves Academy supports families and schools in the community who benefit from: • Diagnostic testing• Tutoring• Summer programs • Assistive technology training• Speech and language services• Career and postsecondary coaching• Educational consulting

The Learning Center touches the lives of more than 1,000 students each year.



INSTITUTE FOR


OUR SCHOOL

THE LEARNING CENTER

THE INSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNNGThe Institute for Professional Learning at Groves Academy shares the evidence-based teaching methods from our school to advance literacy instruction with other teachers, schools, and organizations in the community.

The Institute for Professional Learning has touched the lives of more than 600 teachers and thousands of students since it was formed in the spring of 2016.


Overview

1. Preparing for College in High School2. High School Timeline 3. Going From High School To College 4. Self- Awareness5. Know Thy Self6. Career Exploration7. College Process8. Create Your Team 9. Resources For Students And Parents


Preparing for College in High School

• Begin the conversations early . . . • What are the options?• How will my disability impact my options?• What classes do I need?• Ask and listen to other post-secondary journeys


9th Grade Timeline

• Begin thinking about what type of post-secondary education would be a good fit. It is never too early to begin these conversations with parents, teachers, school counselor, etc.

• Learn about your learning disability, your strengths and challenges and the modifications that help you be successful.

• Students are encourage to participate in extra-curricular activities

• Be sure you are taking the courses that will qualify you for the post-secondary education you are considering.


10th Grade Timeline

• Meet individually with your school counselor to create a post-secondary career plan which should focus on career interest, transition options, and disability awareness.

• Take interest inventories and/or job skills assessment on your own or through your school’s guidance office.

• Investigate potential summer experience: apply for summer job, plan to participate in community sports and activities, volunteer opportunities.

• Begin the college search.


11th Grade Timeline

• Students should meet individually with school counselor to update their post-secondary career plan.

• Review your academic plan to ensure that you have the right classes to match your post-secondary plans.

• Participate in the LD/ADHD College Experience Workshop series.

• Attend the Groves Academy College Fair, as well as the National College Fair.

• Students and parents meet with school counselor in the spring to review and discuss the student’s individual plan.


11th Grade Timeline (cont’d)

• Students planning to attend college, take the ACT in the spring. Students may want to consider a ACT Prep course. Apply for testing accommodations through your guidance office.

• Review student records to determine date of latest diagnostic testing. Students planning to apply for accommodations in college need updated testing every 3 years.

• Begin visiting colleges and talking with admissions staff and the disability services office.


12th Grade Timeline

• Update your post-secondary career plan and plan to meet with the counselor throughout the year to ensure transition plan is in place.

• Attend the Groves Academy College Fair and College Conference or Workshop. New exhibitors and presenters are added each year.

• Retake the ACT in the fall if necessary. • Visit colleges of interest.• Review college’s admissions requirements and

determine their application process. Be aware of application deadlines.


12th Grade Timeline (cont’d)

• Review programs and services available to students with LD/ADHD. Schedule a time to visit the Disability Offices at colleges of interest.

• Begin the application process early: complete applications, apply for financial aid, request letters of recommendation, write a personal statement, send transcripts.

• Choose a college that is a good-fit!


Going from High School to College

• The key to choosing the right career or college is knowing one’s self and matching abilities, strengths, interests and passions.

• Core areas one must understand:1. Academic skills 2. Self-awareness3. Self-advocacy4. Executive functioning5. Motivation and confidence

Resource: A Guide to Assessing College Readiness For Parents of College-Bound Children with Learning Disabilities or AD/HD (Landmark College)


Self-Awareness

The goal is to articulate, who am I, what do I like, dislike, subject areas that I love learning about, subjects I want to steer clear of, how do I spend my free time?

Students must have an accurate self-portrayal and they must successfully identify and share:

• Interests-what do I like, gets my attention, curiosity• Skills/Strengths- what am I good at, where do I excel• Passions- what do I love, get excited about • Struggle- what is difficult, what does not come easy• Disability- what kinds of support services are needed


Know Thy Self1. All About Me- what do I know about me, who can help me organize this information

2. Interest/Skill/Career Inventories – discover career options that match one’s personal interests, skills, personality, values and strengths

• CAREERwise – Career Cluster Interest Survey, Interest Assessment • https://www.careerwise.mnscu.edu/ • Naviance Family Connections – Career Interest Profiler• CareerOneStop- Career Interest Profiler• https://www.careeronestop.org/• MN Office of Higher Education- Interest Assessment• https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/

3. Ask/listen to feedback- student, teachers, bosses, counselors, providers*** Thinking outside the box, explore and honor all passions (i.e. re-decorating, communicating)

4. Taking classes of interest© 2017 Groves Academy. All Rights Reserved.

Know Thy Self: Disclosing Your Disability

• The responsibility for establishing the presence of a disability is placed with the student seeking the accommodation.

• If the student wants reasonable accommodations, the student must come forward, identify the disability, document the disability and need and specifically request the provision of such accommodations.

• The responsibility is on the student, not the college.


Career Exploration

1. Connect interest, skills and passions to career fields to explore• Informational Interviews- prepare meaningful

questions, building your network• Job Shadows- make an impression• Tours- individualized

2. DEBRIEF- what did you hear that you liked, what did you hear that you did not like, what connections can you make to this information


College Search: What are the Options?

1. Technical College- highly in demand• Some schools are specifically designed to offer degrees

to students in a particular area.

• Technical schools might include specialized programs such as cosmetology, welding, interior design and medical training.

• These schools are generally program-specific or degree-specific and offer a more limited curriculum.

• Link resource: https://www.americanexperiment.org/2017/09/center-study-minnesotans-two-year-degree-often-earn-four-year-college-grads/



2. Community College• Students who select a community college often have a

few choices when it comes to their educational plan.

• Community colleges offer an Associate Degree which allows students the opportunity to transfer to a four-year program upon completion if desired.

• Another option is to choose a career program that prepares you for a specific job upon graduation. These programs may lead to a certificate or license in a particular area.



3. Colleges and Universities• Public and Private Colleges and Universities are

designed to offer students a wide-range of degree programs.

• These schools offer a general course of study for students pursuing a Bachelor Degree.

• In addition to the general courses, students choose a major to focus their curriculum around for the course of four years.


College Search

College programs for ADHD/LD students:

• Basic Services• Coordinated Services• Structured Programs

Resource: The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences


College Search

Basic Services - for students needing few accommodations and occasional assistance

• Traditional Programs with minimal LD support • Knowledgeable about LD• Test accommodations• Peer tutors• Counseling• Audio Text books • Liaison with faculty• No extra costs


College Search

Coordinated Services - for students who had accommodations in high school, are strong advocates and self-directed

• Certified LD staff• Make recommendations for admissions• Notification to professors• Testing accommodations• Assistive technology • Note takers• Skills classes• Low or no fees• Examples: Emerson College (Boston), UW-Whitewater, St.

Catherine University, St. Ambrose University (Iowa)


College Search

Structured Programs – The most comprehensive services offered for students with learning disabilities.

• All encompassing programs • Developmental classes• Special admissions processes• Specialized and trained professionals• Teaching strategies for success• One-on-one tutoring and support• Additional feels possible • Compulsory participation and monitoring

Examples: Augsburg College (CLASS), UW-Oshgosh (Project Success), LorasCollege (Iowa), University of Arizona (SALT)


Create Your own “Team”

What resources are available on-campus or on-the-job?What resources will you need to access on your own?

Always load up on resources at the start:• Assitive technology • Disability services• Outside services and resources (coaches, counselor,

therapist)

Calendars, planners, white boards (organization!!)


Resources

• The K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities – 12th Edition

• Ready for Take-Off: Preparing Your Teen with ADHD or LD for College

• College Confidence with ADD• Survival Guide for College Students with ADHD or LD• Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success• Colleges for Students with LD or ADHD (Peterson’s)


Questions and Answers


Contact info

Clare RoneyCareer & Post-Secondary [email protected]


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