A Qualitative Analysis of Post-Secondary Academic Support Services for Learning Disabled Students: A Study of Four Western Pennsylvania Sites.

摘要

According to Gilroy (2007) individuals with learning disabilities (LD) represent the fastest growing population of disabled college students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and to report the types of support services offered to LD students enrolled in four Western Pennsylvania universities. The researcher conducted methodologies which included: an extensive review of literature; on-site, non-participative observations; and in-depth interviews of LD students and Program directors, to facilitate the triangulation of data and to address three research questions. Specifically, types of support services provided, perceptions of support services, and variations among universities' support services were addressed. Findings from this study suggest the accessibility of services is directly related to students achieving success at the post-secondary level. Additionally, recommendations for practitioners and academicians were suggested.