Is Beacon College right for your son or daughter?
The most important consideration is that our students are not defined by their learning disabilities. They are people with interests, concerns and wishes about what they want to do during their college years and after. New technologies enable students to relieve many of the problems that are inherent with learning disabilities. Accomodations now provide students with the extra time they need to decode an assignment or complete a test. Beacon College recognizes what valuable assets our students can be and provides both academic and life skills programs to help them succeed.
Goodness of Fit
The school you select must match all the criteria that will create a positive experience for the student and the family. Size, location, extracurricular activities, social life, and educational opportunities as well as the correct level of services are all vitally important to this success. Never look for the most "prestigious" program that a student can get in. A good fit is one where your student will succeed and enjoy the college experience. Beacon combines Educational Support Services with a Student Life program that contributes to the cultural, social, intellectual, moral, and physical development of all Beacon College students.
Compare the Three Levels Support Services
The first level is called comprehensive support services where the student meets with a learning specialist between once and five times a week. At some schools, the time is set in stone and others are flexible. The second type is coordinated support services. There usually are one or two learning disability specialists that coordinate peer tutors and labs that are provided for all students. An example would be a writing lab. The third type of program offers accommodations but no special services. They are in compliance with the law but go no further to help their students achieve success. Beacon provides every student with comprehensive support to help them reach their full academic potential. These programs include: developmental education, academic mentoring, supplemental instruction, the writing center, special accommodations and student-led study groups.
Essential Skills for Students with Learning Disabilities
Most all the LD college students have said that the most important skills to develop in high school are: note-taking, self-advocacy, time management and written expression with a computer. High school students who develop these skills early will benefit. Make sure that these skills are reflected in your student's IEP or Education Plan in high school. Students should be actively involved in the development of their IEP--if they haven't been, now is the time to ask that they participate.
Making the Transition to College
Take advantage of early orientation or registration programs offered during the summer before your student's freshman year--it's a great way to get acclimated early on. Take photographs and/or a video and use those at home to review campus landmarks and important buildings (student center, dorms, student support services, library, dining hall).
Collecting the Necessary Information for Admission
To prepare for the search, make sure all testing is up to date. Be sure the last psycho-educational testing is within three years and includes an IQ test and an achievement battery. Be sure you have applied for accommodations for the SAT or ACT well in advance.
