Mathematics is central to human activity and hence to education. Although the usefulness and importance of mathematics are unquestioned, many students find mathematics difficult, uninteresting, and dry. Based on my personal experience as a mathematics teacher, teacher educator, and researcher, I have witnessed numerous students expressing their…

In this mixed-methods study, undergraduate students identified with a learning disability indicated their preferred instructional approaches to learning in college-level STEM courses. The relationships between preferred instructional strategies and learner characteristics: (a) declared major; (b) learning disability; and (c) gender were examined.…

Background: Students with disabilities are underrepresented in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Students with disabilities who engage in self-advocacy earn higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate from college compared to students with disabilities who do not engage in self-advocacy. We utilized…

This dissertation explored the lived experiences of undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities and learning-affected disorders within the context of the college writing classroom. Utilizing a critical incident technique (CIT) framework, the dissertation inquired about the writing processes, learning styles, decisions regarding…

EFL Learning is considered an enriching and rewarding experience for most 'normal' learners. However, for learners with neurological differences/learning disabled, it can be a stressful and unpleasant experience. Students with learning disabilities (SLD) are often mistaken for slow, behind, incapable, and failures as there is a lack of awareness…

Research on the acquisition of foreign languages by at-risk students has primarily focused on the Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis (Horwitz, 2000). Recently, there has been a growing discussion regarding the effects of learning style rigidity (Castro, 2006; Castro and Peck, 2005; Corbitt, 2011; Sparks, 2006) and metacognitive awareness…

While post-secondary school students with learning difficulties confront many challenges, there is little research on methods of support. In the current study, the 'adapted course' model was qualitatively examined from the perspective of both students and instructors. The main goal was to explore how students and instructors perceived the…

The increasing number of students with learning disabilities (SLDs) attending higher education institutions is well documented (Brinkerhoff, McGuire, & Shaw, 2002; Goodnough, 2011; Hasselbring & Glaser, 2000; Raskind, & Higgins, 1999). E-texts are considered a reasonable accommodation and may help improve reading and comprehension…

Despite a growing demand for a well-educated workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math-related (STEM) careers, fewer American college students are pursuing these majors. Students with disabilities are one of the at-risk groups whose interest in pursuing STEM careers is frequently compromised by systemic barriers to participation.…

Colleges are seeking ways to better serve the growing population of students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In making decisions about how to best facilitate students' success, it is important to listen to their voices as they describe their experiences and offer unique insights. The…

Disability laws such as the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandate equal access to academic programs, activities, and services for students with disabilities. Therefore, disability laws require that institutions of higher education offer students with learning disabilities (LD)…

One out of every 11 postsecondary undergraduates report having a disability, and students with learning disabilities are the largest and fastest growing subgroup of this population. Although faculty are becoming more comfortable with providing students with learning disabilities accommodations as mandated by federal law, many instructors are using…

Despite the repeated adage that "no two LD (learning disabled) students are alike, it is not only possible but important to focus on the most common errors of LD college writers in order to learn how best to serve these students. There are in fact two main categories of these students: severely learning disabled and classically learning…

Discussed are recognizing learning disabilities, the classification of learning disabilities, and testing instructional strategies in a geological sciences context. Suggestions for coping with the challenge of teaching these students are provided. Sources of assistance are listed. (CW)

This paper reports findings on the academic and intellectual characteristics of undergraduate students attending two midwestern state universities, and outlines specific learning strategies and instructional strategies to alleviate the academic problems of skill-deficient undergraduates. In the first study, the reading performance of 128 college…