Learning Disabilities and Higher Education Access

Statistical data produced by HEATH Resource Center (1999) demonstrates that there has been a steady increase in the number of students with learning disabilities (LDs) attending postsecondary institutions. However, research suggests that the academic and social challenges they face in colleges and universities may be enough to discourage them from completing their education. Researchers have identified specific circumstances that help to explain this phenomenon: (1) the complex transition from the secondary to the postsecondary setting, (2) pessimistic attitudes of faculty and staff toward individuals with learning disabilities, and (3) the lack of experience of students with LDs in self-advocacy. This entry examines these problems.