Academic and personal success for students with learning disabilities through individualized learning supports

Crawford, Christine (2022) Academic and personal success for students with learning disabilities through individualized learning supports. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Post-secondary students with learning disabilities often face challenges which can make their learning experiences less than ideal. It is important that students with learning disabilities have access to and are provided with the appropriate academic accommodations and/or learning supports they require for success. Individualized learning supports provide students with the resources and skills necessary to build upon and foster growth in self-determination, selfadvocacy, self-confidence, and mental health and well-being. A literature review was conducted to explore the characteristics of individualized learning supports and their overall impact on the academic success of students with learning disabilities. Academic coaching is explored in detail and compared to other individualized learning supports. Using mixed methods research, the main goal of the study was to explore post-secondary students’ involvement in and perceptions of individualized learning supports, as well as investigate which publicly funded post-secondary institutions in Ontario, Canada have academic coaching programs available to students. The study showed that the academic accommodations and individualized learning supports students participated in, overall had positive impacts on their learning experiences. Students shared negative experiences with access to learning supports or difficulties navigating learning resource centres' websites. The study brought to light that few Ontario colleges or universities have academic coaching as an individualized learning support available to students. The benefits of universal design for learning (UDL) and barriers to learning support services are discussed alongside suggestions for improving individualized learning supports within the post-secondary education setting.

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