Learning Disability Week puts spotlight on support
Accommodations and help are available
By Rosanna Wakley
Knightly News Reporter
Learning Disability Week, observed nationally from June 16 to 22, brings attention to the challenges, strengths and support systems surrounding students who learn differently.
At Central Penn College, the observance is an opportunity to educate the campus community and empower students with the resources available to help them succeed.
Learning disabilities are neurologically based conditions that affect how individuals receive, process or express information. Common types of these disabilities include dyslexia, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers and math) and auditory-processing disorders.
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, one in five children in the United States has a learning or attention issue. Many of these students continue to navigate these differences in higher education. Yet, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that only about 24 percent of college students with learning disabilities disclose them to their schools. Students often hesitate due to stigma, lack of information or uncertainty about the process.
At Central Penn, students are encouraged to self-advocate early.
Empower yourself
“The most important thing to know is that the accommodation process is 100% student initiated,” said Judith Karas, success coach and director of accessibility services at Central Penn College. “We encourage students to apply for accommodations sooner rather than later.”
The Office of Accessibility supports students with physical, psychological and learning disabilities, as well as those recovering from medical issues who may need temporary accommodations. Students can contact the office by sending an email to [email protected]. After students submit documentation such as an IEP (individualized education plan, required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), 504 Plan (part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 guaranteeing equal access) or a letter from a licensed medical provider, the office creates a formal letter of accommodation outlining classroom support.
Common accommodations include extended time on exams, a quiet space for testing, having exams read aloud by a proctor, use of assistive technology and access to audio versions of textbooks through the college’s Bookshare account. Students are encouraged to coordinate with faculty to determine when and how best to use these resources.
“Receiving accommodations doesn’t mean you have to use them in every class,” Karas said. “But it’s helpful to have them in place in case they’re needed later.”
Karas also welcomes students who may not have a diagnosed disability but are struggling with coursework. Located in The Learning Hub, in Bollinger 59, her office connects students with tutoring, study strategies and referrals to faculty who can help students.
Everyone deserves to learn
Learning Disability Week also supports a broader movement toward inclusive education. Organizations such as Understood.org and CAST promote universal design for learning, a teaching framework that emphasizes flexibility in how information is presented and how students demonstrate learning.
One powerful example of overcoming stigma is filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who did not learn he had dyslexia until later in life. As a child, he struggled in school and was often bullied and misunderstood. In an interview for Inqluded Education, a platform focused on empowering learners with disabilities, Spielberg said he was “two years behind the rest of his class” in reading and shared that “it was humiliating to be called out in front of the class.”
Despite those early struggles, Spielberg turned to storytelling through film. His creative vision launched a legendary career with films like “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park” and “Schindler’s List.” His late diagnosis helped explain a lifetime of academic frustration and has made him a vocal advocate for understanding learning differences.
By celebrating voices like Spielberg’s and promoting campus resources, Learning Disability Week reinforces the message that learning differently is not a limitation. It is a different path to achievement.
Comments or questions? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
