Aim Institute for Learning & Research Endorses Legislation to Support College Students with Learning Disabilities

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA (December 9, 2016) – The AIM Institute for Learning & Research, the professional development and research arm of AIM Academy, is one of 17 organizations endorsing bi-partisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate Thursday, December 8 by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-PA; Orrin Hatch, R-UT and Bill Cassidy, R-LA.

The legislation seeks to support college students with learning disabilities as they continue their education beyond high school. According to the National Center for Learning Differences, which also endorsed the RISE Act legislation, 94% of students with learning disabilities received accommodations in high school, but only 17% received accommodations in postsecondary schools.

The proposed legislation of the RISE Act (Respond, Innovate, Support and Empower Students with Disabilities Act), would amend the Higher Education Opportunity Act to:

• clarify that documentation of a disability includes a high school IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 plan for incoming college students seeking accommodations.
• provide $10 million in funding to provide opportunities for college educators to learn more about the needs of students with disabilities and to
• require schools to create and make easily accessible clear policies regarding disability services available.

At AIM Academy, an individualized, evidence-based curriculum focuses on developing students’ executive function skills and provides a multi-year comprehensive college preparation program including: ACT prep and testing built into the curriculum, a required dual-enrollment program for all seniors at a nearby four-year college, education on how to be a self-advocate and request assistance in college, as well as an opportunity for students to receive support from an AIM educator while in college to help organize work load and promote advocacy for needed accommodations. In 2016, 100% of AIM’s high school seniors were accepted to college.

Despite this preparation, when transitioning to college, students with learning disabilities who received accommodations in high school often face struggles with faculty members who do not allow the use of accommodations and with requirements to have costly diagnostic tests updated to prove the need for continued assistance.

“While AIM Academy faculty and staff work hard to ensure our students are well prepared for the transition to college, we are aware of the common struggles that students can face related to college faculty reluctance to allow for accommodations or the costs associated with the required diagnostic testing,” explained Deborah Lynam, Director of Partnerships and Engagement for the AIM Institute for Learning & Research. “The AIM Institute supports this legislation which looks to address these challenges faced by students with learning disabilities after high school graduation,” Lynam said. “We thank our Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey for leading this charge!”

The RISE Act legislation was endorsed by 16 organizations in addition to the AIM Institute, including dyslexia and learning support organizations like the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Eye to Eye and the Decoding Dyslexia Network as well as higher education associations such as the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education.

More information on the RISE Act can be found on the National Center for Learning Disabilities website at http://www.ncld.org/archives/blog/newly-introduced-rise-act.

About AIM Academy and the AIM Institute for Learning & Research

AIM Academy, a grade 1-12 college preparatory school, provides extraordinary educational opportunities to children with language-based learning differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, utilizing research-based intervention strategies and an arts-based learning environment. In addition, the AIM Institute for Learning & Research is an international, multidisciplinary service delivery model designed to bring the latest research and educational training opportunities to parents, teachers and professionals who work with children who learn differently. To learn more about AIM, visit http://www.aimpa.org.