College Student with a Disability:
A Faculty Handbook

Reading Skills

• Slow reading rate
  
  

• Poor comprehension (understanding) of what has been read
  
  

• Difficulty identifying major points
  
  

• Confusion of similar words or letter (b – d, was – saw)
  
  

• Difficulty pronouncing words
  
  

• Poor comprehension despite good oral vocabulary
  
  

Writing Skills

• Poor sentence structure, including punctuation
  
  

• Spelling errors
  
  

• Slow and/or poor penmanship
  
  

• Incorrect copying from a writing board or text
  
  

Spoken Language Skills

• Difficulty expressing ideas orally
  
  

• Difficulty expressing ideas in sequence
  
  

• Difficulty comprehending lectures
  
  

Arithmetic/Mathematics Skills

• Confusion of symbols such as + and x
  
  

• Transposing numbers
  
  

• Difficulty mastering facts (multiplication tables, formulas)
  
  

• Difficulty understanding/retaining abstract concepts (algebra)
  
  

• Difficulty with word problems
  
  

Listening and Organizational Skills

• Time management
  

• Difficulty following oral and written directions
  
  

• Lack of organization in notes and written assignments
  
  

• Difficulty concentrating; easily distracted
  
  

Miscellaneous Problems

• Inability to understand subtle changes in voice, attitude, etc.
  
  

• Difficulty understanding social cues
  
  

• Inability to understand sarcasm
  
  

• Test taking (anxiety, difficulty understanding questions)