College Graduates with Learning Disabilities — Employment Attainment and Career Patterns

Educational attainment and employment patterns are reported for LD four-year college graduates who participated in a highly coordinated, comprehensive support program for college students with learning disabilities. The majority of graduates had majored either in education or business and management and held business-related jobs. Most graduates responded that their learning disabilities affected their work. Processing difficulties, including retention, amount of time required to complete work, and perception (particularly number and letter reversals), were the most common difficulties. The major compensatory strategies consisted of spending extra time to finish work, asking for assistance, and carefully monitoring work for errors. Even though the graduates indicated that their learning disabilities affected their work, an important finding is that they had developed compensatory strategies. Implications for service at the college level to enhance successful employment of individuals with learning disabilities are discussed.