Learning disabilities such as dyslexia or ADHD fall under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These laws assure you of your right to obtain reasonable accommodation for education. As such, admissions offices cannot discriminate against you because of your disability during the admissions process. However, the admissions officer is also prohibited from asking you about disabilities. So, if an admissions officer does not know why you struggled in high school or in college due to your disability, your application may be discounted.
Where to Discuss Your Learning Disability
I recommend you disclose your disability in an optional essay or statement of purpose. Your learning disability must be professionally tested, diagnosed, and documented, and upon disclosure, an admissions officer will understand the full scope of your issues and make an appropriate decision on your application.
Ensuring Proper Treatment During Your Education
Once admitted, the admissions officer will direct you to the school’s center for disabilities that helps learning disabled students navigate their way through the school with proven methods of alternative learning.
The center’s director will often determine the accommodation that’s best for you and communicate your personal needs to your program director or dean. It is your school’s obligation to communicate the accommodation to your faculty based on the documentation you provided and any additional testing the school requires. Always explain to your program director the kind of learning processes that have helped you in the past.
If while in school you feel you are being unfairly treated, file a formal complaint with the office for disabilities and with your program director. They will act as your liaison between you and the faculty. Many successful CEOs have dyslexia or ADHD, and their disabilities became an asset in school and at work.
Do you need help with this or any other aspect of your application? Explore our Admissions Consulting Services and work one-on-one with an expert advisor who will help you create an application that best presents you…and get ACCEPTED.
By Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, former admissions dean/director at three top business schools. Natalie has reviewed over 70,000 applications, interviewed over 2,500 candidates, and has trained nearly 700 admissions directors and alumni volunteers to select outstanding candidates for admission. Her clients gain admission to top programs including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, and NYU. Natalie holds an MBA from Michigan Ross. Want Natalie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• The Quick Guide to Admissions Resumes, free guide
• Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays, a short video
• 3 Tips for Highlighting Your Strengths in Your Application Essays
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