Mentoring students with learning disabilities, dyslexia ,what is adhd definition and ADHD has shown to help students to develop skills such self-advocacy and self-determination.
For Students with a learning disability, dyslexia and ADHD issues mentoring is a proven approach to help students achieve their academic goals.
A mentor can help students choose an academic program to achieve their career planning, and improve their job placement rates after their graduation.
A mentor can help develop skills to self -advocate, allows the student to have access to safe places and a caring adult who helps them grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) LD, Dyslexia, who suffer from low self-perception, mentoring can not only improve their academic outcome it improves their self- confidence and self-advocacy skills.
A mentor can help develop and improve coping strategies and improve the student’s sense of responsibility.
A mentor is helpful emotionally as a friendship develops with someone whom they can discuss their challenges, assist them to build their strength academically, promote self-advocacy for their accommodation and give them a sense that someone cares for them.
We, at LDRFA, realized from past experience that giving an award without follow up is not effective. Often, students get discouraged and do not make phone calls to get help.
A student struggling to keep up with the academic demands as well as seeking financial resources, often become stressed and feel overwhelmed and call it quits.
However, when they are able to express their anxiety, and help is offered, they usually are able to work through the problem.
Here is a quote from a letter of a student to LDRFA.
“I was so touched, that I no longer consider the LD Resources Foundation and its Sponsors just a foundation or just Sponsors. I consider them my extended family.” – Jason
Learning disabled students transitioning to college need to develop Self-advocacy skills these skills will help bring them academic success
An important point is that mentoring can help the students focus on developing and building their abilities and confidence to become their own self- advocate. This is especially hard for students who are transitioning to college. Theses students need to learn to navigate the transition from high school.
This process is especially challenging for many students with learning disabilities. They need to self-identify their disability and decide whether to seek accommodations and determine the accommodation needed for their specific learning disorder , dyslexia or ADHD( deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd). Some students have expressed discomfort with the process.
Becoming their own self-advocate requires them to become experts on their disabilities and, to know what specific services and help they need using self-advocacy strategies to obtain this support. Their lives should not be defined by the assumptions and decisions of others they need the skills to be able to take control of their own life.
We strongly encourage our students to have a mentor. One day we hope that those students that we helped, will become mentors themselves. Our hope is that they reach out and educate others, touching their lives and, in so doing, pass on the inspiration and knowledge needed to guarantee that one day no one will have to suffer from the lack of help for their specific learning disability.
Zahavit Paz is a co-founder of LD Resources Foundation. She’s a graduate of CUNY Graduate disabilities study program. She is often a presenter on Assistive Technology at professional conferences in schools and colleges and has written extensively on her personal struggle with Dyslexia and ADHD. She is an advocate for individuals with LD and provides resources and information through the LDRFA website. More info about Zahavit Paz.