Adults with learning difficulties may be diagnosed later, but they can still use tools to help them manage their learning obstacles.
Adults with untreated learning disabilities typically struggle with a series of everyday tasks. Not only do they encounter problems in the workplace, but they often have trouble with balancing finances, maintaining a household, communicating with others, and helping their children (who can have the same learning difficulties) with school. If an adult figures that he or she might have a learning difficulty, the first step that he or she should take is to find out for sure.
Finding Out
An adult who suspects that he or she has a learning difficulty should contact a qualified specialist on the matter for a formal assessment. This process begins with a screening, usually in the form of a questionnaire and a review of academic, professional, and medical histories. If an adult qualifies to move forward, then he or she would then undergo a thorough evaluation. This includes tests regarding intellect, achievement, vocational interests, and various aptitudes, as well as the accumulation of all relevant information about an individual. Using this dossier, a specialist can then determine whether an adult has a learning difficulty.
Specialists can be found through many venues, including:
- Various learning disability associations
- Adult public education
- Adult literacy programs
- Literacy councils
- Community mental health agencies
- Therapists
- Local colleges or universities
- Private schools or institutions concentrating on learning difficulties
- Vocational and rehabilitation organizations
- University-affiliated hospitals
Provisions and Rights
The diagnosis of a learning difficulty comes with certain legally-ordained sanctions under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990. Under these provisions, discrimination of those with learning difficulties is strictly prohibited. For example, just as a student diagnosed with a learning disability would be given extra time to complete the SAT under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, adults would be given the same allotment of extra time for college exams and entrance exams such as the LSAT or MCAT. Furthermore, an adult with a learning disability would receive extra time on certification tests as well as employment screenings and exams. Specifically, the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to all businesses with more than 15 employees, all public and private learning institutions, and all religious institutions. Those with learning difficulties also have a right to confidentiality, but these rights are not as strong for adults as they are for children.
Alternately, although there are provisions to help equalize education and employment, once these provisions are allotted, success is still up to the person with a learning difficulty. In essence, if someone with a learning difficulty is given provisions in accordance to that difficulty and still fails the exam, the person cannot negotiate their score any further.