Whether you grew up taking classes for your reading difficulties or you were diagnosed with a learning disability in adulthood, you are probably aware that there are a number of methods to help you tackle challenging tasks. Surely by now you realize that the one-size-fits-all approach to education leaves many students behind, including yourself, and may even lead to emotional and psychosocial struggles too. Despite these challenges, you will be a stronger person having lived through them and you can still find satisfaction with your personal relationships, work, education and life.
The challenge of coping with learning disabilities as an adult is enormous. Today, so much emphasis is placed on completing college and special needs adults are expected to fit into this mold, even when other options like vocational skills training may be more in-sync with their adult learning styles. According to the National Longitudinal Transition Study, the results are bleak, as 35% of children with learning disabilities drop out of high school (which is twice the rate for students without learning disabilities). Only 2% of high school graduates with learning disabilities transition to a four-year college.
Despite the difficulty of arriving at adulthood with a learning disability, some achieve college degrees and transition into working adults. The successful students are generally self-motivated and seek out campus leadership positions, work study jobs, internships and summer employment opportunities. They are observant at work, watching how others communicate, interact and function. They ask questions, know what is expected of them and stay organized with cell phone reminders, calendars, lists and agendas. On the job, successful special needs adults know that certain accommodations will help them, such as written instructions, tape recorders, demonstrations, diagrams, extended deadlines, a clean working space, computer spell-check and color-coded files. They tap into their support network of family and friends as needed and visit websites like the Job Accommodation Network (www.jan.wvu.edu), Peterson’s Internships (www.petersons.com), the National Rehabilitation Information Center (www.naric.com) and the Equal Opportunity Commission (www.eeoc.gov).
Many disabled individuals gain employment in adulthood. This, of course, is not the end of the struggle; for many, it is only the beginning. People who have disclosed an adult learning disability may find that the boss removes supervisory/leadership roles from the position because of the perception that disabled adults lack social skills or the ability to multitask effectively. Other times, copious praise is given for even the most basic task. To gain respect, it’s recommended that individuals gain experience outside of work by joining professional associations, attending seminars, networking with cohorts and volunteering.
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