Education has gotten a lot of criticism in the past, primarily because it did not cater to the needs of students who did not learn well using traditional teaching techniques.
In more recent years, especially at colleges, there have been multiple options available for students who may have special educational needs, such as dyslexia and autism, to not only survive in these environments but to thrive. This has allowed individuals who fit into these groups to get the qualifications that they need to get into their chosen area of work without losing their hair from stress during the process!
However, it can be tough to know which college or other educational institute will best match you based on your needs. In the last few years, there has been more of a surge in students working with universities and colleges to better tailor the education they received to match their educational needs and requirements, which has benefitted everyone.
So, in this article, you will be walked through how you can work with the college of your choice to ensure that your education needs are met. This will lead to a better outcome for both you and the college.
Use Tools To Match With Colleges
Multiple tools available online can match you with colleges based on your GPA, SAT scores, or special educational needs. Tools like CampusReel’s college acceptance calculator will help to match you with the perfect college for your educational level, while also helping you to assess the college from the videos on the site, so you can see if the students who currently attend these colleges face similar challenges to you.
As stated in the intro, many universities and colleges are now not only accepting of students who may have special educational needs, such as dyslexia but will also provide equipment to help you better manage your workload and give you extra time in examinations. Again, you can use online tools to narrow down the perfect college for you based on how much support they can offer, which will hopefully alleviate some of your anxieties about attending the institution.
Use Technology
In 2024, there are more options than ever to help students with special education needs thrive.
10 years ago, it was the Dictaphone, but now, you can get access to assistive listening systems, speech recognition software for computers (to help with essays), and even alternative keyboards.
Again, depending on the college of your choosing, you may be able to get a grant to help you get access to these pieces of technology for free. This will help to cut the cost without you needing to put your education on the line. In many cases, you will need to provide evidence that you have special educational needs, following an assessment from an educational psychologist. This assessment may be provided when you enroll, or you may need to undertake it independently. The requirements for access to equipment will vary from college to college, so be sure to enquire about the process of getting access to technology when you apply, so you can hit the ground running with your degree!
Seek Extra Tuition
With an array of different learning styles, many people can struggle in college with simply sitting in a lecture hall and listening to a professor talk for three hours! If you find, or if you know that you will struggle with this type of educational setup, then one of the ways you can best tailor your education to your needs is to seek out extra tuition.
Many college students can offer this as part of extra credit, but you should not be afraid to test out multiple different tutors to ensure that you get a good fit. There are even some tutors working at universities or independently who specialize in helping students who may have special educational needs in a university setting, so do not be embarrassed to disclose this information. It may just help you walk through your degree and come out the other side with a top grade! Best of all, many students who offer tuition do so remotely, so you will not have to leave your dorm room to get the top-up or the support that you need.
Ask About Assessments
If you were one of the few students who managed to make it through your high school career with somewhat ease but have always felt that there was something holding you back in relation to educational needs, then it may be time to ask about assessments at your university.
It is not uncommon for students to be diagnosed with special educational needs at the university level, simply because these institutions put more effort into the diagnosis and support of all student’s needs. You will need to talk to your tutor or the admissions team about this to ensure that any assessments are undertaken as early in the year as possible, so your grades are not affected.
As mentioned before, you can get these assessments performed privately, but, if the college you are attending can offer the assessment for free and can implement its findings into your education ASAP, then this is surely better in the long run.
Accept Your Learning Style
There is something of a myth that there is one learning style that is superior to the other. This is not true, and if you are looking to start college and want to succeed, you will need to know and accept your learning style. This will allow you to take notes with ease, revise better, and even set up study groups for other people with similar learning styles as you.
Remember, in education, there is no correct way to learn; only different ways to access and process the same information. So, make sure you know what your learning style is before you attend college, and then use it to your advantage in your time there.
Good luck with your studies and your degree!