Getting an Engineering degree with a disability

[RB49]

Hi,

I've been out of high school for the past five (going on six) years. As far as I can remember I've been in special education classes. I've been going to my local community college on and off ever since I graduated high school. I've never been able to pass college level courses period. I have a documented disability. Which is processing information at a slower rate than regular students. It can slow me down at times in school. I want to either major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

 

I also want to start my own business related to both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

 

Also how hard would it be for a student like me?

 

How hard are the upper class math / science courses required for either of the majors?

 

Does anyone have any advice on how I can succeed as a disabled student? Or any other resources?

 

Sorry if this is too long if it's innopropriate a mod can delete this post.

[studiot]

Welcome RB,

 

I would suggest looking for modular courses that you can follow at your own rate and accumulate modules towards your degree.

 

Some of these can be followed by distance learning.

 

I think the UK Open University still allows international students. You only need to take one module per year. Last time I looked you needed six modules for an ordinary degree and eight for an honours.

[ajb]

I think it would be very hard for you. But you recognise that and you know you will have to put in more effort than the standard students. Things that are worth doing are not easy.

 

I am not sure how your disability will be viewed by a given university. If you were in a wheelchair or something like that then there would be no problem at all. Universities will make certain adjustments if required. Now, I know that universities in the UK will have special help available for students with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. You can get extra tuition and more time in exams and so on.

 

It sounds like you have been diagnosed with some condition. Contact the universities that you are interested in and find out what extra help they can offer. Be as open as you can and ask them specific questions if you need to. They may require some formal proof of your condition, but worry about that after they make you an offer.

[Phi for All]

What resources are you currently using? Have you taken advantage of local programs?

[RB49]

I think it would be very hard for you. But you recognise that and you know you will have to put in more effort than the standard students. Things that are worth doing are not easy.

 

I am not sure how your disability will be viewed by a given university. If you were in a wheelchair or something like that then there would be no problem at all. Universities will make certain adjustments if required. Now, I know that universities in the UK will have special help available for students with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. You can get extra tuition and more time in exams and so on.

 

It sounds like you have been diagnosed with some condition. Contact the universities that you are interested in and find out what extra help they can offer. Be as open as you can and ask them specific questions if you need to. They may require some formal proof of your condition, but worry about that after they make you an offer.

Thanks I'm in the states. I've been to my local community college on and off for the past five years. They have a whole department dedicated to disabled people. Also I think my disability is processing information (a learning processing disability.

 

I remember in my last year of high school my school, my school gave me all of the papers documenting my disability and papers related to my Individual educational plan.

 

Are there any good books / online guides I can use to learn faster?

 

I could mention some of the ones I've used if it's allowed.

[ajb]

This is outside of my experience. I am sorry I can't really offer any specific advice.

[Sato]

Do you have auditory processing disorder? That is, do you need (substantially) more time to consider what the lecturer says before being able to grasp it and move on, or even just take notes? If so then maybe textbooks and online courses may be right for you, as that will allow you to, for the most part, go at your own pace and reread/rewatch whatever you need to.

[RB49]

Do you have auditory processing disorder? That is, do you need (substantially) more time to consider what the lecturer says before being able to grasp it and move on, or even just take notes? If so then maybe textbooks and online courses may be right for you, as that will allow you to, for the most part, go at your own pace and reread/rewatch whatever you need to.

I think I have mostly an auditory processing disorder and/ or a kinesthetic processing disorder. Math is easy for me, but the hardest part is remembering. Also I process information faster from reading books then lectures. I'm doing an online course for basic math. Sometimes it takes me a couple hours to a day (or two) to get formulas / concepts into my long term memory.

 

I have at least 50+ ideas I've thought up this year alone for software programs. Even possible inventions.

 

Am I allowed to discuss book titles? Or the types of books that could make studying easier for me?

 

Thanks.

[studiot]

 

Am I allowed to discuss book titles? Or the types of books that could make studying easier for me?

 

Lots of posters discuss books here.

 

No problem.

 

I do have a comment about textbooks though.

 

You have stated that you want to achieve an engineering degree.

 

There is generally quite a mismatch between the content of textbooks and the content of courses.

Many colleges even produce their own texts or notes as they say there is no text that properly covers their course.

 

This is not to say that either the books or the course syllabus is wrong it is just that courses are very very selective because any engineering subject is way too large for one degree course.

 

So you need texts that will properly cover the course syllabus you are following to do the work and the exams.

 

Years a go a lecturer once said

 

"This course is 10 one-hour lectures. The exam is 1 hour long. So we can only ask you 10% of the course in the exam. The trick is knowing which 10%"

 

[RB49]

Thanks studiot,

 

I'm reading a book called "Learn more study less" and I'm on a technique called "Visceralization".

 

The author of the book basically says to try to combine as many senses (including the main five senses hearing,seeing,smelling,touching (sense of touch) and tasting). As possible and make it as real as possible.

 

The author says that when a person tries to remember. For example a part of a topic from math or computer science.The more senses involved the more likely a person is to remember the subject matter.

 

Can someone with learning diffuculties (or not), tell me the techniques you use to remember material faster?

 

Thanks.

[studiot]

Well my old maths teacher used to say

 

The more times you write something down the more danger there is that you will remember it.

 

 

I had a physics teacher who used to come into class saying

 

Questions, questions, questions

 

It is certainly true of my experience and of most people I have talked to that you learn best by doing.

 

Can I ask something a bit personal, but please refuse if you like.

 

Some people think visually so books that present the material graphically in pictures and diagrams work best for them.

 

Others think in words and sentences so they prefer prose (text)

 

A lucky few can think in abstract and find theory easy.

 

So how do you think?

[RB49]

I remember better in pictures and associations (like linking something you know to new material). Also text works for me to a certain degree.

 

I've been using the Visceralization technique and have linked pictures, feelings, and sounds. Also I do physical actions in order to retain the information.