Did you ever dream about your child walking in your shoes, maybe even going to the same college you attended? Have you given up your dreams of a college education because your child was diagnosed as learning disabled? While your learning disabled child may not earn a doctorate, a college education may still be an option.

Anne Ford, in her new book, “On Their Own” explores the higher educational possibilities for your learning disabled child. While your child may not be capable of earning the degree, you once dreamed about, your child could certainly train in a field towards job security and independence.

We’re reminded in her book that community colleges usually have open enrollment policies, meaning your child doesn’t have to pass a test or jump through hoops to enroll. Our community college also has a technical trades program that has minimal written work with a lot of hands on work.

Our son with dyslexia is enrolled in their welding program; upon completion of 24 credits, he will receive a welding certificate and be trained on all the lasted equipment. There isn’t a set class day or time, he can go whenever he is able between 9am and 6pm, Monday through Thursday. If you have a child with no sense of time, a program like this may be the answer.

Recently I found out about a college, Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI),specifically for people with learning or emotional problems, which is within 40 miles of where we live. Students approved through the county mental health will have free tuition, room and board. After living at the college for 18 months, the student will be fully trained in a career. The college also offers counseling to them, job assistance, and life skills training.

Anne Ford talks about her daughter attending a program at Leslie University called the Threshold program. It is a program for LD individual to train them to live independently.

Are there scholarships available for LD students? Anne Ford tells us in her book that there are not many scholarships specifically for LD students. However, there are all kinds of scholarships available and some don’t even require essays. I signed up last week for fastweb and within two hours, my son had applied for three scholarships on line. Don’t forget to sign up for free financial aid from the government FAFSA: The Free Application For Federal Student Aid; you can do that on the internet too.

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Lifetime Adoption – When Your Learning Disabled Child Grows Up
Disabilities or Differences – Pick a Title for the Challenged Child
Smothering Your Friends - A Characteristic of Learning Disability
Photo Credit
Photo of the book is a scan of Anne Ford’s newest book, “On Their Own,” “Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD,” A Family Guide.
Publication Date: May 7, 2007 Newmarket Press