Being dyslexic in college can be hard. There can be a lot of writing, reading, note-taking, etc at a much faster pace than students had in high school. It can be scary for students with dyslexia. Many dyslexic students may not need extra help, but some will, so we decided to list some of the best colleges that have specialized services to serve students who might need extra help due to their dyslexia.
U Mich’s Center for Students with Disabilities can help students with a wide range of needs. They can help students ask for extended time on tests, quiet workspaces, taped lectures, reduced course loads, and many more accommodations. They also can help with adaptive tech, tutoring, and more for students who need it. Having a center that will help students get the support they need is an important resource for students looking for a top-tier accessible school.
Many students who want individualized college experiences seek out liberal arts colleges. We especially recommend Pitzer because of Pitzer College’s Academic Support Services (PASS). Well, that and you can take classes at any of the Claremont colleges during your time at Pitzer, which is very cool. PASS connects students with resources and accommodations. They offer services, resources, training, programming, collaboration, and direct services.
The University of Arizona houses the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT). SALT can connect students to support specialists, CRLA certified tutors, tech support (for example help with classroom tools, mind-mapping, creating citations, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, calendaring, email, etc), psychological services, curated student support resources, and academic skills modules. They also have academic intervention programs for students who need them.
U Conn’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) has programs in academic advising, a peer-to-peer mentorship program, an honor society, technology and interpretation services, and study abroad help for students with disabilities. CSD helps students with a wide range of needs and can tailor accommodations to the student.
The Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC) at American University isn’t just for students with disabilities or accommodations. They help all students get the support that they need on campus. Interestingly, this includes an athletic support program. Their general services include Tutoring Services, Academic Coaching, and Supplemental Instruction. However, they also have specialized programs in Testing Accommodations, Assistive Technology, Learning Services, and other accommodations for students who qualify. One of the most important things about ASAC isn’t even for students. They have programs where they teach professors and college staff about working with students with disabilities, creating accessible environments, accessible event planning, and testing. While these programs aren’t for students, they are essential for creating a university community that cares about accessibility.
Notre Dame houses the Sara Bea Accessibility Services Center. The center helps students get accommodations which can include Testing Accommodations, Auxiliary Aids and Services, Non-academic Accommodations, and Academic Adjustments. The center is closely tied to Notre Dame’s Center for Student Support and Care. The center lobbies for support and accessibility on campus. This center also has Care and Wellness Consultants as well as mentoring services.
UC Berkeley has the Disabled Students Program. The DSP offers support services as well as Alternative Media, Communication Services, Note-Taking Services, and Proctoring. The DSP also advocates for students on campus and can help with academic accessibility. They also have TRiO a group that supports students with disabilities on campus. TRiO can help students with Individualized Academic Coaching, Advising, Goal Setting, Education to Improve Financial Literacy, Financial Aid and Scholarship Assistance, Academic Soft Skills Training, Peer Academic Coaching, and Peer Tutoring in select courses. TRiO also holds community and cultural events on campus.
Many college students have dyslexia. It might mean you need extra accommodations, but many schools have centers and programs that will help get you the services you need. Going to a school with an access center also means more neurodiversity and people with disabilities on campus. It might not seem important but it can be a great community to be a part of.
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