Students with learning disabilities in the community college: Their goals, issues, challenges and successes.

Abstract

The LD students related both positive and negative experiences during their education at the community college, and obtaining an Associate's degree was the goal cited most frequently. Overall, the LD students were satisfied with DSSD services, and felt they were effective in assisting them to achieve their educational goals. Problems were cited with registration, separate testing locations, willingness of professors to accommodate, and faculty knowledge and sensitivity regarding students with LD. Themes of desire to succeed, perseverance, desire for understanding, and personal accountability emerged from the data. Several conclusions and recommendations are offered to community colleges to further enhance the abilities of community colleges to assist LD and other disabled students to achieve their educational goals.

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the experiences of students with learning disabilities (LDs) in the community college. A particular focus within this study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of Disability Support Services Departments (DSSDs) services and the impact on the progression and retention of students with LDs towards their educational goals. This concurrent mixed methods study utilized the Learning Disability Student Questionnaire (LDSQ) and the Disability Services Questionnaire (DSQ) to survey a sample of students attending the community college in the south central United States who had self-identified as having a learning disability, and disability support services counselors. Focus group interviews were also conducted with LD students. A data sheet was utilized to obtain demographic data on the study participants.