Learn more about New York University

New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City, New York. NYU’s main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan. Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher learning in the United States. NYU has an undergraduate student body of 21,638 and a graduate student body of 21,766. NYU is organized into 18 schools, colleges, and institutions, located in six centers throughout Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, as well as other sites across the globe. With approximately 12,500 residents, NYU has the seventh-largest university housing system in the U.S. and the largest among private schools.
The Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) determines qualified disability status and assists students in obtaining appropriate accommodations and services. CSD operates according to an “Independent Living Philosophy”, and strives in its policies and practices to empower each student to become as independent as possible. Services are designed to encourage independence backed by a strong system of supports.

Learn more about Oberlin College

Oberlin College is a private, highly selective liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. Approximately 2,974 undergraduates make up the 3,000 total student population. There are 47 majors available for study through the College of Arts and Sciences. The curriculum includes study in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. The Conservatory of Music offers 8 majors and private study in 20 areas.
Services that are provided at Oberlin College are mostly in the accessible services category. Focused services are provided for low-income students, first generation students, students with disabilities and other students typically underrepresented in higher education. Oberlin College understands the challenges that students with disabilities are presented with upon entrance into college, and works to coordinate accommodations to meet the needs of those students through Learning Assistance and Student Disability Support.

Learn more about Drew University

Drew University is a private, liberal arts college located on 186 wooded acres in Madison, NJ. Home to approximately 2,500 students, Drew’s programs emphasize depth, independent research, and collaborative learning in 50 academic areas. The general education plan is constructed to build well-grounded students who are ready to take on collaboration, self-direction, global awareness, and engagement on campus and in the community. Drew is a member of the NCAA DIII, and offers many club and intramural sports as well.
Drew has no formal program. Services are documentation driven. The level of service is determined according to the individual student.

Learn more about Earlham College

Earlham College is a Quaker liberal arts college located in Richmond, Indiana. With 1,194 undergraduate students, Earlham operates under the “Friends’ belief in equality” in which everyone addresses each other by his or her first name. Earlham is located on an 800 acre campus and encourages study abroad all over the world.
The Academic Enrichment Center helps students with disabilities obtain accommodations, offers peer tutoring, provides information on disabilities and study skills, and supports students throughout their college experience.

Learn more about Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo College, also known as K College, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home to 1,340 undergraduate students, K College produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S. academic institution, and ranks in the top 1 percent for number of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. K College offers 28 majors spread across the fields of Fine Arts, Humanities, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Physical Education and Social Sciences. Kalamazoo College also offers 11 unique interdisciplinary majors as well.
The student is responsible for initiating and continuing participation in activities that lessen the impact of the learning disability on academic performance. This could include the following: attend all labs and class sessions; spend an appropriate amount of time studying and preparing for the course (usually this is more than the recommended average time for Kalamazoo College students), use spell and grammar checks and proofreaders, order taped texts (based on availability), make use of campus support systems (Supplemental Instruction, Counseling, Academic Resource Center, Kalamazoo Disability Learning Organization), use organizational calendars and time-management skills, find study places that reduce distractions, and arrange for tutors to help with studying.

Learn more about Yale

Yale is a mid-sized, private, Ivy League, research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Approximately 5,200 undergraduate and 6,300 graduate students attend Yale. Seventy-eight majors are offered through the undergraduate college in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematical and computer sciences, and engineering. Popular majors include political science, history, economics, and psychology.
They provide the accommodations a student requires.

Learn more about Academic Success

Academic Success is a comprehensive transitional program designed to guide postsecondary students with learning disabilities through the college experience and to living independently.  They provide academic, social and emotional support as well as tutoring, mentoring, life skills, organization, and social activities.  Students study at either Santa Fe Community College or UF-Gainesville.

Academic Success is a program that assists young adults transition to adulthood. The students live in supervised apartments with instruction in cooking, budgeting and other independent life skills. Most take classes at either the Santa Fe Community College or the University of Florida. Over half receive 4 year degrees. The program is small, averaging 17 students, but never having more than 22.

Learn more about Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University is a small, private, liberal arts college located in Middletown, Connecticut. Approximately 2,800 undergraduate and 200 graduate students attend. Forty academic departments offer 47 majors and 11 interdisciplinary programs. Wesleyan is part of the Twelve-College Exchange Program, a cooperative semester or year-long exchange between Wesleyan, Amherst, Bowdoin, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Trinity, Vassar, Wellesley, and Wheaton College, the National Theater Institute, and Williams-Mystic Seaport Program.
Students can meet with Sarah Lazare for any issue of concern. She provides standard accommodations and meets with students for any academic issues.

Learn more about Mercyhurst College

Mercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania. There are approximately 4,400 students on the the 74 acre campus located in urban Erie. Mercyhurst’s academic calendar is based on trimesters. Mercyhurst College also has a program for students with Asperger’s Syndrome.
We have two levels of services at Mercyhurst. In level 1, students receive accommodations. In our structured program, students attend a 3 week pre-college summer program. Freshman have a weekly mandatory meeting and can receive services such as a note taker, tutor, or screen readers.

Learn more about University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is a large state university located in Eugene, Oregon. Approximately 17,000 undergraduates study on the 295 acre campus. The academic calendar is on the quarter system, and general education credits are not highly structured. The academic climate is relaxed. A small group of men and women participate in Greek life. Over 70 percent of students are from in-state with 28 percent coming from California. The Ducks compete in NCAA DI sports programs, along with a wide variety of student clubs and organizations.
The services are individualized, flexible, and student-driven. They work to build relationships with students and figure out ways to best support them.

Learn more about Boston University

Boston University is a private, research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 40,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States. Boston University has 31,766 undergraduates, 13,232 postgraduate students, and offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees through 18 schools and colleges on two urban campuses.

BU strictly adheres to federal guidelines for accommodations. They want their students to be independent and strong self-advocates as much as possible, but are there if needed. Dr. Wolf prides herself on the broad range of assistive technologies available . Note: There is a College of General Studies which is a non-degree granting two year program within the University. Students spend two years in a very solid core curriculum and if they've done well, they can transfer to any other college in the University. They have a team teaching approach, so students in the program share the same advisors and faculty. While it's not necessarily designed for students with disabilities, some are admitted there. Admission standards are slightly lower, and is a great start with a strong integrated core curriculum taught by faculty who are really interested in teaching beginning college students. It's also nice for students who are undecided about their major.

Learn more about St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas is an independent liberal arts school which is home to 2,700 students in Sparkhill, NY. Offering more than 100 majors and minors, the college requires students to get a core foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. STAC uses a rolling admissions policy. There are over 30 student run organizations on campus, and STAC participates in NCAA DII athletics. Students have the option to participate in study abroad programs, and in the Honors, HEOP, and Pathways program for students with LD/ADD.


Pathways consists of a director, assistant director, and a trained staff of mentors. They provide one-to-one mentoring sessions as well as seminars, workshops, and study groups tailored to meet students' needs. They provide academic counseling, course advisement, priority registration and a specialized summer program prior to the first semester at STAC. Pathways is a very competitive program: there are 100 applications, and they accept 20 freshman a year. If not accepted into the Pathways program, students get accommodations, but not the extensive services in the Pathways Program.

Learn more about University of Colorado-Boulder

The University of Colorado is a large, public, research university located in Boulder, Colorado. Approximately 24,800 undergraduates and 5,100 graduate students attend. The University offers 80 majors through 6 schools and colleges. Popular majors include psychology, integrative physiology, international affairs, English, and biological sciences.
The Disability Service Center provides students with tools, reasonable accommodations and support services to participate fully in the academic environment. Accommodations may include: exam accommodations, extended time, note taking, distraction reduced environment, word processor, readers and scribes.

Learn more about University of Illinois

The University of Illinois’s main branch, Urbana-Champaign, is a large, public, research institution serving 31,173 undergraduates and 10,322 graduate students on a 1,468 acre campus. Illinois is made up of 17 colleges offering 150 programs and degrees, and is the flagship university of the Illinois system. The university has the most Greek members in the world, and offers 1,000 student run organizations. Illinois participates in NCAA DI sports, and offers a wide variety of club and intramural sports as well. Illinois strives to provide students with disabilities access to everything the university has to offer, including a wheelchair accessible bus system and competitive wheelchair sports programing.


Karen Wold is the case manager for students with learning disabilities and ADHD. The baseline service is reviewing documentation, determining accommodations, and delivering them. She also works on study skills, and organization on a one-on-one basis.

Learn more about Muskingum College

Muskingum University is a Presbyterian, liberal arts and science university located in New Concord, OH, and is home 1700 undergraduates and 1400 graduate students. Over 90% of all undergraduates live on campus, and choose from among 44 majors and 9 pre-professional programs. Study abroad exchange programs are offered in 12 countries around the world. Students participate in NCAA DIII sports programs, intramural sports programs, and a wide range of student organizations. Muskingham has a mission to provide an exceptional education for an exceptional value, and their full-time tuition is among the lowest of comparable private colleges in the state.

The PLUS Program is unique in the level of services available to the qualified disabled student. Unlike support programs at some other institutions, the PLUS Program does not use peer tutors; services are delivered by a professional staff of learning consultants. The PLUS Program services emphasize content-based learning strategies instruction and content tutorial support in individual sessions or small groups. The program does not provide remedial or developmental instruction. Muskingum University's PLUS Program provides three levels of academic support to qualified students admitted into the program: Full-service, Maintenance, and Independence. Students are encouraged, but not required, to progress through these support levels during the course of their academic careers at Muskingum.

Learn more about University of Missouri

The University of Missouri is a large, public, research university in Columbia, Missouri. Approximately 26,000 undergraduate and 7,700 graduate students attend. Eighty-nine bachelor’s degrees are offered through 10 schools and colleges. Biological and biomedical sciences and business are popular majors.


The primary role of the Office of Disability Services is to coordinate academic accommodations so that students with disabilities have equal access and opportunity. They work with faculty to ensure understanding of the student's needs and accommodation plan. They also spend time individually with students depending on what they request and what their needs are.

Learn more about Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational, career-oriented university with its main campus located in Providence, Rhode Island. JWU currently has 17,230 students enrolled in business, counseling psychology, culinary arts, education, engineering, equine management, hospitality and technology. JWU also has campuses in North Miami, Florida, Denver, Colorado, and Charlotte, North Carolina.


Services are individualized to the student. Once they receive a student's documentation, the student is assigned a special needs adviser that follows the student for their entire time at Johnson & Wales. The special needs adviser acts as a liaison between any instructors or departments on campus where accommodations would be necessary.

Learn more about Baylor University

Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Baylor is home to 12,149 undergraduate and 2,620 graduate students. Baylor’s undergraduate program is renowned for having one of the highest rates of students going on to attend medical school.


Baylor offers a wide array of services. They do not have cookie cutter accommodations; each student is viewed as an individual. The testing facility is located within their office. They offer a six week program in the fall called College Transition that addresses executive functioning, and the student receives 4 credit hours for that course.

Learn more about Scripps College

Scripps College is a small, private, liberal arts school in Claremont, California. Approximately 950 undergraduate women attend Scripps. Scripps is part of the Claremont Consortium, allowing cross-registration at Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Pomona Colleges. Over 40 majors are offered, including intercollegiate and interdisciplinary programs. Top majors are art, biology, economics, English, French studies, mathematics, politics and international relations, and psychology.


Scripps provides accommodations in the form of note taking, additional time, and alternate form testing. Alternate testing is done either with the professor or in Student Development/Library. Assistive technology is provided on a limited basis, although expanding this is in the works.

Learn more about Rollins College

Rollins College is a small, private liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida. Approximately 1,800 undergraduates attend Rollins. The College of Arts & Sciences offers 30 majors and 15 minors in addition to pre-professional programs and 3/2 programs. Economics, international business, and psychology are some of the most popular majors at Rollins.


Rollins College offers appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities.  Examples of accommodations available include preferential seating, extended test time, distraction free rooms for testing, limiting of exams per day, scribes and readers (for tests), textbooks in audio format, and single room housing.

Learn more about Landmark College

Landmark College offers associates degrees and one bachelor degree in Liberal Studies specifically for students with learning differences and ADHD. The student body consists of 30% of students with ADHD, 30% have ADHD and another learning disability, 30% have a learning disability, and 10% are on the Autism Spectrum. All faculty have specialties in learning disabilities, as well as specialties in their fields. The ratio of students to faculty is 5/1. Students go to Landmark to learn skills and strategies which will enable them to go to a traditional college campus and into the work force. They can get their associates degree if they would like, or they can stay 2 or 3 semesters and go on to a bachelor's program somewhere else. Their majors are Liberal Arts, General Studies, Business Administration and Business Studies. In the very near future they plan to offer an accredited Bachelor's Program with a strong emphasis on Science and Technology.

IECA Conference

Great to see you all in Boston last week, although a few beloved faces were missing (Charlotte and Jill), and sorry to have missed many of you.  In case you were able to avoid me, I was holding down the fort in the vendor hall with our new project, College Supports for Learning Differences.  Jill Burstein and I have spent countless hours over the last year developing an extensive, in-depth database of colleges and universities throughout the U.S., which allows users to search by school name, size, service level, and location.  College Supports.com provides the detailed, specific  information about programs that took hours and hours to gather, all located in one easy-to-access location.

We will be adding another search criteria for Spectrum disorder/Asperger programs, along with new colleges and other post-secondary programs in short order.  All information will be updated at least yearly, and more frequently if we find changes have occurred. If you have not had a chance, sign on to www.collegesupports.com and sign up for a trial membership using the sign up button.  Remember, IECA members have a member benefit discounted rate of $99.00 for the year. 

Please let us hear your comments, requests and suggestions, and feel free to let us know any updated information you come across so we can keep the site as current as possible.  Our goal is to disseminate as much information as possible in a user-friendly format so that each student can make the best academic choices for his/her needs and find their best-fit college.

What testing do I need for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity documentation?

To document an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a student must submit a current report (no more than three years old) based on the results of a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist experienced in the area of ADHD. The report must include the following information:

•A clear statement of a diagnosis of ADHD and the level of severity.
•Identification of procedures and measures used to make the diagnosis.
•Summary of a thorough diagnostic interview with relevant information about the individual’s history, including evidence of early onset, and symptoms across multiple settings.
•Description of current symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria.
•Ruling out of alternative diagnoses or explanations for the symptoms.
•Analysis of evaluation results, including relevant test data, to substantiate the diagnosis.
•Explanation of how current symptoms cause significant functional limitations in a college environment.
•Recommendations for appropriate accommodations to help compensate for the ADHD, with a rationale for each one.

What testing do I need for learning disability documentation?

Documentation must support the need for requested accommodation(s), and must

•state the diagnosed disability.
•be current, within the last 3 years, be a complete IQ test, and utilize the most recently normed testing instrument.
•include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are being requested.
•describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability and list the tests or techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis of the disability (include evaluation date[s] and test results with relevant subtest scores).
•describe the specific accommodations requested.
•state why the disability qualifies the applicant for such accommodation(s) in a college environment.
•be typed or printed on official letterhead and signed by an official evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization). (Ahead.org)

What is a learning disability?

The symptoms of learning disabilities are a diverse set of characteristics which affect development and achievement. Some of these symptoms can be found in all children at some time during their development. However, a person with learning disabilities has a cluster of these symptoms which do not disappear as she/he grows older. (LDA.org.)

What is a processing problem?

The types of LD are identified by the specific processing problem they address. They might relate to input or getting information into the brain, organization or making sense of this information, memory or storing and later retrieving this information, or output or getting this information back out for utilization. The specific types of processing problems that result in an LD diagnosis might be in one or more of these four areas. (LDA.org)

What does it mean when someone tells me my child learns better through auditory or visual channels?

Auditory Perceptional Difficulties
An individual might have difficulty distinguishing subtle differences in sound (called phonemes) or might have difficulty distinguishing individual phonemes as rapidly as the normal population. Either problem can result in difficulty processing and understanding what is said. The person may have difficulty identifying what sound(s) to listen to when there is more than one sound present.

Visual Perceptional Difficulties
An individual might have difficulty distinguishing subtle differences in shapes (called graphemes). They might rotate or reverse letters or numbers (d, b, p, q, 6, 9); thus misreading the symbol. Some might have a figure-ground problem, confusing what figure(s) to focus on from the page covered with many words and lines. They might skip words, skip lines, or read the same line twice. Others might have difficulty blending information from both eyes to have depth perception. They might misjudge depth or distance, bumping into things or having difficulty with tasks where this information is needed to tell the hands or body what to do. Students with visual perception problems often are poor readers. (LDA.org)

Does my child need to be a strong reader to attend college?

Colleges have many types of accommodations to help students more easily obtain information presented in the written word. Students can use various forms of adaptive technology such the Kurzweil Educational System (you scan in the material and the computer reads it to the student) to help them more easily obtain the information they need to participate in their classes. Many students who do not read well are obtaining four year and professional degrees.

How does Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder impact my student’s ability to be successful in college?

Many students in high school with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder have developed systems that have helped them stay organized. Because their support systems will be changing, college will put new pressures on these skills and present new challenges. We have found the most efficient way for students to adapt and develop the systems they need for successful college learning is to meet with a disability specialist until they have their adapted systems firmly in place. It often takes a very short time before the students to adapt, but they can utilize these services, if offered, for all four years.

What is Section 504?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides academic accommodations for students who do not qualify for full services under the Individuals Disabilities Education Act. Students often do not see a learning specialist, but receive accommodations such as extended time on tests, the use of a computer for test taking, or a note-taker, depending on what their documentation recommends.

What is an Individualized Educational Program (IEP)?

An IEP is a legal document that states what academic, physical and social issues the school will address with a student in the current calendar year, who will provide the instruction, and what amount of instruction time will be provided by each provider. Goals must be set and measured and the student, by law, must make measured progress. A new IEP is written for each academic year K-12. IEP’s are not utilized in college.

Does my student need an IEP for college?

No. The IEP is a tool of the Individual Disability Education Act and becomes obsolete as soon as the student graduates from high school. Colleges rarely if ever, want to see this document.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act and how will it impact my student?

The Americans with Disabilities Act is the law which insures that no person is discriminated against because of their disability. It provides for standard accommodations that will level the “playing field” for a student to be successful in college and beyond. This law provides for accommodations that range from ramp accessibility into buildings to alternative format for written material, and must be substantiated with documentation.

What should I do to make sure my student is ready for college?

The most important tools that a student can be provided with is a clear understanding of his/her learning strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to advocate for themselves. He/She must know in which areas they will need help and where to access help at college. Working on simple life skills such as getting up in the morning by themselves, taking medication on their own, doing their laundry and managing their checking account can be key to student success at college.

What services levels are available at the college level?

Comprehensive programs are well defined, fee-based programs staffed by specially trained personnel. Students meet a minimum of once a week throughout the semester/school year to receive help with executive functioning, writing, and content area skills in addition to getting help setting up accommodations and  technology supports. Program services vary widely in terms of the number of times a student is seen from daily to weekly, but students are assigned specific appointment times and attend just as they would any other class.

Specific services programs for students with learning disabilities also involve regular, but less frequent meetings, with a variety of personnel who may or may not have special training in working with students with learning disabilities. Students must be good advocates and be pro-active when they need assistance.  Students must make their own appointments to meet with appropriate personnel, and must self advocate with their professors to receive accommodations.

Every student’s accommodations are determined on an individual basis by the recommendations that accompany their documentation, and are based upon the findings their testing substantiates. Some of the most frequently used are: extended time on tests (anywhere from 1.5 to unlimited time), notetaker in class, a reader for tests, larger print, tape recorder in class, a computer for writing, frequent breaks while test taking, and a quiet place to take exams.

About Us

College Supports for Learning Differences was developed by two veteran independent educational consultants, Jill Burstein, M.A., CEP, and Susan Hanflik, M. Ed, CEP.  Born out of a desire to share our knowledge, our goal is to provide the up-to-date information necessary to find “best fit” placement for every child, regardless of the learning differences they may have.  All information obtained has come from personal interviews with service providers at the individual colleges and universities. We have visited over 350 college campuses throughout our years as consultants, and continue to spend extensive time “on the road”, getting first-hand knowledge of current happenings on college and program campuses.

Jill Burstein has engaged in her college consulting practice in Deerfield, IL for over 11 years, with special emphasis on college placement for students with learning differences.  Jill is the mother of two adult children, one of who struggled with LD and ADHD throughout his educational career.  Jill is a graduate of Indiana University and Northeastern Illinois, and holds a Masters in Special Education.  She has worked as a classroom teacher, college support provider, and tutor, and understands the frustration of both parent and child as they navigate through this process.

Susan Hanflik has engaged in her college consulting practice in Cranston, RI for the last nine years, and for several before that in Westport, CT.  Susan’s practice has a special emphasis on students with learning differences. She is the mother of two adult children, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Cincinnati, and holds a Masters in Special Education.  She has worked as a classroom teacher, advocate, and tutor, and has devoted herself to helping every child achieve success in the form of a happy, independent life.

More and more students with learning differences are continuing their education in college and post-secondary settings. An enormous need has arisen for an objective database, which will allow educators, parents and other professionals to make the best match between a student’s needs and a program’s available services. At College Supports for Learning Differences, our goal is to provide real-time information about services which a college or program provides in a format that is easily accessible for use by professionals, parents and students. As special educators and educational consultants, we know that only by careful, objective examination of both a student and a program, can a match be made that will keep the student on the continued path to success. We believe that there is an appropriate placement available for every student, but that finding that placement requires knowledge, perseverance, and hard work. We hope to expedite that process.

College Supports for Learning Differences’ mission is to provide detailed descriptions of services available, personnel providing the service, contact persons at each institution, and costs to the student as reported directly from service providers.