Adult Support

Adults Do Have Learning Disabilities

Having a learning disability is a lifelong experience. If schoolwork was challenging, your future jobs may require many of the same skills you had difficulty with in school. Often reading manuals, writing reports, sending in financial statements are time consuming and present difficulty. Keeping your job may also include additional training in order to upgrade your career skills. You may need to take classes, or return to school.

The challenges you are experiencing at home, keeping up with bills, struggling with schedules and constant changes, helping with homework and employment insecurity all may be overwhelming.

All of these challenges impact your success and it is important that you explore all of the assistance available to enable you to be a self sustaining and successful adult.

You may or may not have been diagnosed before finishing your high school education, but many are diagnosed in their adult years. Depending upon the amount of difficulty you are experiencing, you may need current evaluation and guidance.

You do not need to have an LD label to know you are having trouble, but perhaps you need the label to gain the adaptations and assistance you need. Your schooling may depend on this help. Specialized training is available to assist you in your adult life and career.

The following articles are available to guide you toward finding the help you need. Others have been here and are here to help.

GO TO: www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/adults/index.asp

You can find the following articles that will assist you to understand yourself

Assessment, Evaluation and Literacy

• Adults with Learning Disabilities: Assessing the Problem
• Screening for Adults with Learning Disabilities
• Accommodations for the Graduation Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Adult Literacy Reading Programs For Literacy Providers

Civil Rights and ADA

• Q & A: Who is Covered and Who is Not?
• Learning Disabilities and The Law

Workplace Issues

• Job Accommodation Ideas for People with Learning Disabilities On the Job
• Common Misconceptions Preventing Job Advancement
• Learning Despite Learning Disabilities

Post Secondary Options

• Transition to College
• What is a SOP?:
• Success in College for Adults

You can also find information at: www.ncld.org/college-aamp-work

Social/Emotional Issues

• A Handicap With No Name
• Emotional Problems in Adults with Learning Disabilities
• Preventing Mental Health Problems in Older Adolescents And Adults

Special Population Issues

• Learning Disabilities and Low Income Populations
• These and other articles can be found at: http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/adults
  Non Verbal Learning Disabilities
• (NLD) is a neurological syndrome consisting of specific assets and deficits) assets include early speech and vocabulary development, remarkable rote memory skills, attention to detail, early reading skills development and excellent spelling skills

Four major categories of deficits

• Motoric (lack of coordination, severe balance problems, and difficulties with  graphomotor skills).
• Visual-spatial-organizational (lack of image, poor visual recall, faulty spatial  perceptions, difficulties with executive function* and problems with spatial relations).
• Social (lack of ability to comprehend nonverbal communication, difficulties adjusting to transitions and novel situations, and deficits in social judgment and social interaction).
• Sensory (sensitivity in any of the sensory modes: visual, auditory, tactile, taste or olfactory)

For more in-depth information: http://www.nldline.com/

Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder

• Compounding the issue can be found at: http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Especially_For_Adults

Information includes:

• Overview of Adult AD/HD 
• Seeking an Evaluation 
• Treatment 
• Tips for Finding a Coach  
• Advocacy for Adults

Help through the National Resource Center

Adults with memory problems and trouble organizing thoughts may benefit from:

• What is Executive function? www.help4adhd.org/faq.cfm?fid=40&tid=9&varLang=en
• I'm an adult; doesn't AD/HD only affect children? www.help4adhd.org/faq.cfm?fid=4&tid=9&varLang=en

The NRC has several other Information and Resource Sheets that have a particular focus on adults and AD/HD. These sheets are:

• Time Management: Learning to Use a Day Planner (WWK # 11)
• A Guide to Organizing the Home and Office  ((WWK # 12)
• Succeeding in College (WWK # 13)
• Legal Rights: Higher Education and the Workplace (WWK # 14)

Help with using Assistive Technology to assist learning

AMAC: Alternative Media Access Center www.amac.uga.edu
The Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC), an initiative of the University System of Georgia, is committed to removing barriers and providing access to knowledge for individuals with physical, sensory, and learning print-related disabilities.
AMAC is a partner of the University of Georgia and the UGA Regents' Center for Learning Disorders and works with private institutions, government and non-profit organizations, private industry, and other agencies serving individuals with disabilities.
AMAC research initiatives and services incorporate digital media and adaptive technology solutions.