Like, a lot of my threads, I'm really not sure, where this belongs,......

[Ponygirl]

But, hopefully, someone can tell me what I need to do, to, get this
accomplished. I'll be 41 in Feb. {YUCK!!!!}...LOL Anyhow, I'm not working,
right, now, but, would love to go back to school for what I wanted to do
when I went to college, but, didn't, because, of "family".:rolleyes:"
Anyhow, I went to college for Clerical/Business Support.
I TRULY want to be a therapist/counselor!:D Thing is, I'm 40 with an L.D.,
so, I need to find a program, which, accomadates people my age, who,
wouldn't be able to handle, simply, having a bunch of work thrown at them
& be told to do it, without, some additional supports, in, place.
Anywho, any of you from Mass. have any ideas, where, I can look for
Colleges, which, could handle my learning issues & get me into my
"dream" career??:D:D

Thanks!

Phyllis

[moose53]

You know what might be a good idea, Phyllis -- to 'interview' a couple of places to get some direction and some ideas on ways to proceed.

Two places that come to mind immediately are Cambridge College in Cambridge. A lot of 'older' adults are enrolled there. So, that might be a fit.

And Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. I worked there once on a contract assignment (word processing, I think). I liked the 'feel' of the place. A lot of women. A focus on education and human services careers.

UMASS-Boston, UMASS-Lowell are good schools, too.

If I were you, I'd start with getting some information from a few good schools. Things like: what does the place "feel like" -- is it a good environment for an adult to learn in?? What kind of support services would you need?? What are the course requirements??

I'd start out with getting a real good foundation of information to work with. Then the 'other part' -- the money. There are state colleges and universities that are cheaper. There are scholarships. There are all sorts of scholarships -- scholarships for people with red hair, scholarships for people of Scottish descent, just about anything you can think of. There are internships, too.

To me, the most important thing would be the 'fit' -- is this an environment that I'm going to be able to learn in.

I got 2/3 of the way through my associate's degree. I often wish I had finished. When I was graduating from high school, I wanted more than anything to go to Bay Path Junior College in Longmeadow. But, circumstances and life and other assorted crap got in the way. Now, it's too late and it's pointless. I was interested in their one-day-a-week Saturday college a few years ago before I stopped working.

I admire you for wanting to do this. I always figure you should wait to go to college or university until you're 'ready'. That's when you'll really blossom and grow. I think counseling would be an awesome career 'fit' for you. It "sounds right" :D

Hugs.

Barb

[Ponygirl]

I think, Lesley has stuff for students w/L.D.'s. Not sure, about,
the other one, though. Thanks, I'll give them a jingle, and, see what they
can offer!:)

Thanks!

Phyllis

[Daisy]

I'm a Lesley alumni how can I help?:)

If nothing else I'd go in and interview with their admissions program. I got my Master's through Lesley and I have to say one thing that really impressed me over the state college I attended is that they were dedicated to helping me reach my goal and when I went hunting for a teaching job they worked really hard to help me get one. That wasn't the experience I had at the state college level.

The downside is that it is a private school so it is going to cost more. As others have said there is financial aid available.

So here's a link to get you going:
http://web.lesley.edu/lc/

[Nana4&cntn]

:D Phyllis,

I am not stalking you, but, I have some info which may be helpful. I don't know your educational background, so, some of this may not apply. I have been checking out going back to school here in Nebraska. The local community college has a program for older (I am almost 50) folks with disabilities includindg LD. Community college is alot cheaper to get your AA, There are alot of financial aide out there.
The first thing you need to do is fill out a financial aid form FAFSA, If I remember right you can call a local highschool and should have one. It is a Federal form so it takes forever. They the Feds will detemine how much financial aid you are eligible for.
You can also search out grants and scholarships online. If you want to pm or email me I will try to do more.

I can go into it further, if you want to pm me to give me your phone number. I will call you when you are available or I can give you my number.

Willing to help from afar,
hugs,
Kathy

[Daisy]

Actually you can fill out the FASFA on-line and it isn't that bad to do. I had to help one of the younger members of the family throught he financial aid process recently.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq009.htm

[Nana4&cntn]

Daisy,

Tells you how long ago my last child went to college, 2001, Things have gotten better, We had to fill the 1st one out by hand and mail it, then we could review online.

Best Luck Phyllis,
Kathy

[Ponygirl]

Do any of you know anything, regarding, the (Thresh-Hold-sp??) program
at Lesley College and, whether, you think, it might be appropriate, even,
at age 41??:eek::p...LOL

Phyllis

[Daisy]

Do you have a link? I might be able to find a contact for you.

[houghchrst]

Hi Phyllis, there is all kinds of info on Lesley's website. A direct link to the Threshold Program. YOu are never too old to go to college. Keeps the brain from rotting. I still have dreams about going to school, literallly.

[Ponygirl]

You can drop me a P.M. or E-mail with the info.

Giggles341967@msn.com

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

I've visited the web-site, but, didn't see anything, regarding, any programs
or anything for people with L.D.'s. I'd really like to be able to have the name
of a person, that, I could call.

Thanks!:)

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

The poor woman & I have been playing phone-tag, ever, since!:rolleyes::p
Please, pray that we connect SOON!:D:D

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

:( Well, I heard from the woman at Leseley College. They do have a program
for L.D. students, however, it's not for people, who, want to go into the
Mental Health field.:( Which, is what I'd like to do.:( So, I guess, THAT
idea's a bust!:( Oh, well! Just, something ELSE, that, didn't work!
Seems, to be the story of my life.:(

Phyllis

[moose53]

Phyllis,

Before you give up on that idea entirely, think about this: maybe The Universe wants you there; but, in a DIFFERENT ROLE!!??

Take a look at what else they have before you totally write them off. It's a good school.

Hugs.

Barb

[Ponygirl]

Barb, I'm not sure, what, you mean. I want to go back to school,
because, I want to become a therapist/ counselor. They don't have
a Mental Health program for learning-disabled students. Which, I would need.
I really don't understand your reply.:confused::confused:

Phyllis

[Nana4&cntn]

Phyliss,

Just go in and talk with them, when we first started talking about this you wanted to do clerical work in the MH field. What about a program to become a psych tech. You would work directly with patients, listen and make their stay better. No it is not a therapist position, which would take a good 6 years to complete. But you could be a tech in a little over 2 years. Check out some of the community colleges or a medical center schools and ask them the same questions you asked before. Just don't give up!

Sometimes we have to compromise to get to where we would like to be. But, NEVER give up! You only fail yourself if you give up.

Take care,
Kathy

[Ponygirl]

The Clerical field is what I graduated from college for, back, in 1985.
That was, right, out of High School. BUT,...I did that only, because,
of "family":rolleyes: Long story!:rolleyes: MY dream has ALWAYS been to be
a therapist!:D:D That's what I want to go for, NOW.

Phyllis

[Nana4&cntn]

Phylliss,

I am so sorry, I didn't realize you had already finished college. Do you have an AA or a BA? I am not sure an LD should prevent you from being a counselor or therapist. You could request a waiver under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That may give you a chance. I don't have any other ideas.

Take care,
Kathy

[Ponygirl]

:rolleyes:I know, my learning-disabilities won't prevent me from becoming
a therapist! That's not what I meant!:p...LOL
If I went back to school, my courses would be the issue. They would need
to be classes, which, would accomadate and allow for my L.D.'s.
For instance, I might need extra time to get projects & things done, which,
others wouldn't need, because, they could handle all of the course-work,
whereas, I might not be able to, because, I have the L.D.'s.
Do you know what I mean?? I just mean, I might need some extra time
and some extra help, to get stuff done in my courses, which, students
who don't have any L.D.'s, wouldn't need. This is the kind of stuff, I mean.
Also, I've never been in anything, but, special Ed., so, I've always been in very
small classes, where, we all were able to get individualized attention.
No way, would I survive in a regular-sized college classroom, after, that!:eek:
Is this making it any easier to understand my situation, now??;)

Phyllis

More specifically, you can do a search for Middlesex Community College-Bedford, Ma.
Then, check out the Transition Program. That's what I was in.
1st-12th grade- Cotting School, Lexington, Ma.

[Ponygirl]

I edited to give people more Info.!:D

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

I've given it to you, but, no one's replying.:(

Phyllis

[CanRelate]

Phyllis:

If it were me, I'd think about WHERE my dream job might exist, and talk with the human resources people at those organizations about what educational requirements are necessary. Being a licensed therapist (at least in Massachusetts) seems to require a Masters degree at the least.

Other positions ... like working through the state at, say, Massachusetts Mental Health Center .... might have different levels of requirements. Working with the homeless is very much in the mental health field.....although I remember you posted about how troubling going to Back Bay T Station because of the number of homeless who spend their time there out of the cold. So, I am thinking you will have to work through that if you are wanting to go into the mental health field....

Within student services at a college/university is an office responsible for students with disabilities. There is paperwork documenting disability needed from your doc.....and SPECIFICALLY how this disability would present itself as you pursue your degree. So, the kind of LD you have but more specifically what is needed to support successful completion of your work.... tutors, taped lectures, etc., etc. Each institution probably has a certain way of coordinating this.

If your dream job requires the Masters degree, knowing that can help you make choices about your major for your bachellors degree.... so you certainly can break it down so you can qualify for jobs which will give you the hands on experience to continue moving toward the degree you need.

If your previous schooling was a two year associates degree which you completed, in many cases it can be used to meet some requirements of a bachellors degree.....

All the best with this....

Regards,
CanRelate

p.s. 41 is not old.... and not too late for following your passion....


But, hopefully, someone can tell me what I need to do, to, get this
accomplished. I'll be 41 in Feb. {YUCK!!!!}...LOL Anyhow, I'm not working,
right, now, but, would love to go back to school for what I wanted to do
when I went to college, but, didn't, because, of "family".:rolleyes:"
Anyhow, I went to college for Clerical/Business Support.
I TRULY want to be a therapist/counselor!:D Thing is, I'm 40 with an L.D.,
so, I need to find a program, which, accomadates people my age, who,
wouldn't be able to handle, simply, having a bunch of work thrown at them
& be told to do it, without, some additional supports, in, place.
Anywho, any of you from Mass. have any ideas, where, I can look for
Colleges, which, could handle my learning issues & get me into my
"dream" career??:D:D

Thanks!

Phyllis

[Gymnast_Navy_Wife]

Pony...
this just some of my experiences-- I don't go to the college you are speaking of, but I do have some experience with going to college with a learning disabilty and being some what of a non traditional student. I didn't find out I had an LD until I was 23, married, and already had my AAS and working towards my Bachelors.

*** to preface all of this, I earned my AAS degree and went through the majority of college without any sort accomodations or help until I was diagnosed with an LD and decided to put down my pride and ask for some help--- hard to do, but so worth it**

I echo what CanRelate said about going to the student services center. Inside that office there will a person who is in charge of programs and accomodations for students with disabilties, special needs, etc. Go to them-- talk with them-- find out what kind of stuff they offer in terms of "help" and get all the information you can. You will be required-- in some way or another, to prove whatever disabilty you in some way, shape or form. Exactly how and whats needed really just depends on the school in situation. In my case, I asked for accomodations based mainly on my Learning Disabilty (vs my epilepsy) ; my LD was "diagnosed" via Neuro-Psych testing and I gave the disabilty services coordinator a copy of the results of that testing ( It also mentioned, in the report my epilepsy and level of control) and the report of things.

How the school determines what special accomodations you will recieve also varies-- some schools like to have a physician/counselor, etc write a report suggesting specific things and others time the disabilties services coordinator will sit down with you, go over your documentation of your disabilty, ask you questions about it and together yall will figure out things. The latter is what ended up happening in my case. I had talked to the Neuro Psychologist after my testing and got his thoughts on accomodations, but nothing in writing per say from him. Anyway, the disabilties services coordinater and I went over my documentation (she also had me explain what my LD involved--- I have a "rare" type of LD that most people aren't familiar with), discussed how it effected , my wants and then she came up with some of her own that I hadn't even thought of and we came up with a plan and a set of things. In case, I recieved unlimited test time in a quiet, dstraction free, private or semi private room and was allowed to take as many breaks as I needed. I also was allowed to use a tape recorder in all of my classes (should I choose to-- although I only did so in one class) and in my upper level class where the professor is known to go a mile a minute, not write notes on the board, expect participation all at the same time, I recieved "note sharing"-- basically I got recieved a copy of class notes that another student took-- that way I wouldn't have to try to do so many things at once and possible miss the very important things. I could focus on the professor and material. ( That one was actually the disabilties service's office idea and my professor was very in favor of it) I was also allowed to take breaks during my classes and my professors allowed me to have as many absences from class w/out penalties (this was primarily due to my epilepsy vs the learning disability). The disabilities services office can be of tremendous help-- utilize them.

My suggestion is to focus on getting the accomodations you need to help you overcome your LD and make school sucessful and as less frustrating as possible; rather than a specific program for students with disabilties. Don't just limit yourself to certain things. Be willing to explore all the resources avaliable to you. They can make a world of difference !

Good Luck in your journey !
:) GNW :)

[Ponygirl]

:eek:Wow, you gave me lots to consider!! I guess, now, I'll have to
pick the place, and, get to their Student Services Center to see what they
can offer. Thanks so much, and, if anyone else has any ideas, don't be
afraid to reply!!:D;)

Phyllis

[Daisy]

I would look at the colleges in your area that offer the program that you want and then see which colleges offer the best student support programs for students with LD's. Have you looked at Cambridge College? They work with a variety of adult learners and are supposed to be good with working with people transitioning back to a school/learning environment. I have never taken classes there so I can't speak personally regarding the program, just what I've heard.

Once you've figured out who offers the programs that you can get to, then I'd make an appointment and see if you can meet with someone in their student resource or what ever title they give it to find out what kind of support systems they provide. I know some colleges also provide transition services through Adults returning to college programs. I had a friend in that program when I was doing some undergrad work and I benefited from the help she was getting.:) I understand from some friends that the programs are still available and useful for adjusting to what are programs generally geared to a different cultural climate.

If it is what you want, you will find a way to make it happen.

[Ponygirl]

:oNo, I haven't done anything about this, yet. :(Right now, I just need
to get my Depression under control, first. {Which, is a joke, right, now!}:(
See my last post in the Depression forum.:(

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

:rolleyes:I'll update, when, something does get done!

Phyllis

[Ponygirl]

:rolleyes:I'll update, promise!!:eek::D

Phyllis