| Some students with learning disabilities experience | | | | I think of my father, whose own father, an immigrant |
| greater success through hands-on, or active, learning. | | | | and master cabinet maker, wanted more for my dad |
| Finding a way to balance that need with the academic | | | | and his sister. He enrolled my aunt in "elocution" |
| requirements of college can be a challenge. | | | | courses, so she would sound "upper class," and she |
| Some parents of students with LD seek a college with | | | | willingly participated. My father, however, was cut from |
| little or no "academics". If college didn't have | | | | a different cloth. In fact, he was similar to his dad in |
| academics, what would be the value of a diploma? If | | | | that he excelled at doing things with his hands. The |
| everyone were able to earn a degree, the degree | | | | idea of sitting behind a desk all day was abhorrent to |
| would be worthless. As it stands today, standards in | | | | my dad. While my aunt attended college and excelled, |
| college have been watered down from years past | | | | my father dropped out of Pratt Institute after one |
| with grade inflation. There was a time when a | | | | semester. He had always had a fascination with flying, |
| Bachelor's degree signified entree into a different | | | | and more than anything else, he wanted to go to |
| "class". However, because BAs are so common | | | | aviation school. Aviation school was not college |
| today, their worth has declined. I think it is important for | | | | however, and my grandfather made it clear that that |
| us to uphold the standards of a college degree, and | | | | was not an option. At the age of nineteen, my dad's |
| that means maintaining rigorous "academics". That said, | | | | interest in flying led him to defy his father and follow his |
| there are "hands-on" learners who absorb academics | | | | heart. He drove to California and enrolled in aviation |
| more easily when there is "active" involvement. It | | | | school. As a result of his decision, my dad was told |
| doesn't mean they aren't intelligent. It just signifies that | | | | never to come home asking for money. Indeed, upon |
| the information needs to be targeted to their strongest | | | | my grandparents' death, my grandparents made their |
| channel. | | | | disappointment clear - evidenced by leaving all of their |
| There are several choices for students like this. They | | | | considerable assets to my father's sister. Aside from |
| can choose to go to a college that offers a co-op | | | | physical abuse, I can't think of a more dramatic way to |
| program, where they attend classes one semester | | | | indicate disapproval and make one's offspring feel like |
| and get work experience the next. If your teen is great | | | | a failure. |
| with his hands, he can make an excellent living at | | | | When making a college selection, it is critical to |
| certain trades - perhaps even a better living than a | | | | understand how your teen learns best. Having that |
| college grad. Just remember, you can't fit a square peg | | | | information affords you the opportunity of seeking the |
| into a round hole. You teen should be in a stimulating, | | | | college that best suits his/her style. Considering the |
| challenging environment that teaches to her strengths. | | | | financial magnitude of the college investment, it is wise |
| Only then will she thrive. | | | | to take the time to make the best match possible. |