Whether or not to disclose a learning disability in college can be a difficult decision for a student who has endured the stigma of the “Special Education” label for their entire school career. To get rid of the “LD” stamp and feel like their peers, students often choose No to reveal after high school. However, be careful to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each choice, as the ramifications of this decision can sometimes have dire consequences.

Students often don’t realize that college brings a whole new set of rules regarding disabilities: In college, students with disabilities are anonymous. The disclosure is confidential and involves only the Office of Disability Services and any instructor to whom the student reports. The labels are nonexistent.

Must you disclose in an application? Probably not, unless you’re applying to a college for students with disabilities only, or need to explain unusually low grades or test scores. Generally speaking, you don’t want to give the university any reason to have preconceived notions. One might logically assume that college admissions officers would be knowledgeable about disabilities and understand that students with DA can be active: they are often highly creative, bright, and “outside the box” thinkers. However, even among professionals, there is still an extraordinary lack of knowledge. Why risk the possibility of having your application reviewed by an uninformed person?

Once admitted to a university, however, there are definite benefits of disclosure:

• Coming from high school, a supportive environment with lower expectations and a lighter workload, you’ll likely have a hard time navigating a new system without guidance or a safety net. Disclosure makes you eligible for accommodations like extra time, a distraction-free testing environment, a note taker, specialized tutoring, etc. Using these accommodations does not give you an advantage, it simply levels the playing field, giving you the same opportunities as other students. Think of fittings the same way you would with glasses.
• Disclosure provides protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specifically Section 504. If your documentation supports accommodations and they deny them, you have the law on your side. Without disclosure, you are unprotected, even though a disability exists.
• Disclosing and using accommodations early on increases your chance of success and builds your confidence. It is much easier to maintain a high GPA (grade point average) than to raise a low one. Students who insist on “doing it on their own” during the first semester often struggle with the unique challenges of college and end up with less than optimal grades. So they find themselves in a position where they have to get their GPA up to an acceptable level, which can take many semesters When starting a new company, doesn’t it make sense to do your best? Isn’t it true that good grades give you power? Conversely, failing grades can make you doubt your own decision to attend college in the first place.
• If you suspect you won’t be able to handle a full college course load early on, and your psychoeducational evidence supports this, ask your examiner to add “Reduced Course Load” to the list of recommendations at the end of your paperwork. Divulgation ought give you permission to take fewer classes, while still being considered a full-time student for insurance purposes. Be sure to ask your university’s disability service provider about this.

©2007 Joan Azarva