According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a "person with a disability; includes any person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities, (ii) has a record of such impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having an impairment."
The majority of students at Rollins College who have registered with Disability Services have a learning disability. Therefore, we have provided an example of two learning disabilities:
Some common characteristics of students with LD
A learning disability (LD) is a disorder which affects the manner in which individuals with normal or above average intelligence take in, retain, and express information. It is commonly recognized as a significant deficit in one or more of the following areas: oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, basic reading skills, reading comprehension, mathematical calculation, or problem solving. Individuals with learning disabilities also may have difficulty with sustained attention, time management, or social skills. A learning disability is often inconsistent. It may persist throughout life but the problems manifested may change depending upon the learning demands and the setting. It may cause problems in grade school, seem to disappear during high school, and then resurface again in college. It may manifest itself in only one academic area, such as math or foreign language, or impact an individual's performance across a variety of subject areas and disciplines.
Some characteristics of students with ADHD
Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological condition that affects both learning and behavior. ADHD is the result of a chronic disturbance in the areas of the brain that regulate attention, impulse control, and the executive functions which control cognitive tasks, motor activity, and social interactions. Hyperactivity may or may not be present. The diagnosis of ADD is always a medical one, and must rule out causation from other mental disorders. The most effective management of ADD often includes a combination of drug therapy (e.g., Adderall) and cognitive behavioral therapy (self-instruction, relaxation). Students with ADD are helped immensely by a structured, supportive environment.
In fact, approximately 9.5% of students attending Rollins College have disclosed that they have a diagnosed learning disorder. An additional 3.5% of all students served by the Office of Disability Services have other physical, emotional, and cognitive disorders such as:-
Traumatic Brain Syndrome
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Emotional disorders (including Major Depressive Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder and Anxiety Disorders)
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Physical disabilities (including Parapalegia, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing Impairments, Sight Impairments, Speech Impairments)
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Mutliple Diagnoses
