If you've made it to adulthood and struggled academically or socially in school growing up, perhaps you have a hidden learning disability. It is not too late to get some help. Community colleges have testing facilities for young adults and returning adult students. It is a place to start your inquiries into what services you may be eligible.

Using the computer can help some math or communication skill problems. Students or adults with dyslexia and dysgraphia can type out papers, rather than use pencil and paper. With handheld calculators many math functions can quickly be computed.

If you've been out of school for a while and go back as a returning student you may be happy to see that using the computer for your homework and tests is the norm. Colleges typically have a computer lab to use for test taking by students with learning disabilities. You may also be allowed more time to take tests if you have a learning disability that warrants it.

With math, I'm not recommending that calculators replace learning how to do computations, but for a math disability like dyscalculia it could make the difference in being able to handle personal finances, or make simple calculations in a job. It opens your horizons to more possibilities in ways to make a living, perhaps with a better salary or feeling of job fulfillment.

Once you have identified your learning disability and taken advantage of services provided by a community college for adult education, it is time to take courses that will prepare you for a more fulfilling or lucrative future.

Using alternate ways to learn, plus your own time and effort, gives the self confidence and self esteem to go forward with career planning and changes.

In summary, take time to be tested at a community college or other learning center for the presence of learning disabilities. Phone your local county or parish Board of Education to find a center to be tested. Make use of computers and calculators to write papers and do math computations as needed. Revise your goals upward and take the necessary courses for personal or career fulfillment.

Article by Susan Kramer

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