Strategies for Improving Postsecondary Achievement Rates in Students with Specific Learning Disabilities

Barriers to academic success of students with specific learning disabilities in postsecondary settings and the importance of academic supports, accommodations, and adaptations at the postsecondary level have been widely investigated. A plethora of academic supports and student help centers exist at vocational schools, two year institutions, and four year institutions for students with disabilities. Even though colleges and universities provide accommodations to students with disabilities there still appears to be a gap between their rate of success in a postsecondary setting. Adult learners with specific learning disabilities do not graduate from their postsecondary educational programs as compared to their same aged peers without disabilities. This literature review examines best practices for improving postsecondary educational success in individuals with specific learning disabilities. This review discusses obstacles preventing academic growth in students with specific learning disabilities, strategies for success, and the use of accommodations and modifications at the collegiate level. A wide range of strategies that improve postsecondary educational success of students who have disabilities have been identified. Recommendations for future research and implications for practice are addressed