Providing equal learning opportunities in college

College life is proving to be challenging for local students with disabilities. Luckily for them, Northern Marianas College provides accommodations that enable them to compete with other students.

Johanna Ada, an officer of the NMC Empowered Students League and a student with developmental disability, said support services offered her by the college include extended testing time, tape recorders for lectures, and large-print educational materials that make learning a lot easier for her.

The support services, however, not only assist her in her academics, but also provide her a venue to socialize with peers and help her live independently.

As last year’s president of the Empowered Students League, she helped organize recreational and fundraising activities. “I don’t like to be shy at all. I want to be open with other students and people about my disability,” Ada said.

Another student, who asked not to be named, said her high school experience did not prepare her for college life. “It’s so much more challenging here. There are more tests, quizzes, and you can’t just rely on lectures. You really have to read on your own and try your best,” she said.

Her friend, who is currently the president of the organization, agreed. “[The NMC campus] is like a whole new world for me. In high school, everybody knew everyone else, including who had disabilities. But here, there are so many people you meet everyday,” she said.

But with support services, having dyslexia—or learning disorder distinguished by impaired ability to recognize and comprehend written words—does not put her at a great disadvantage.

NMC disability services coordinator Celia Lamkin helps her by reading instructions or questions to her during examinations. Lamkin even provides her at least three spellings of a word from which she can choose the right one.

“These students are smart. You just have to give them equal opportunities so they can compete with other students,” Lamkin said.

The NMC Disability Support Services aim to provide a rewarding learning experience for students with disabilities. Available services at the college are pre-admission counseling, academic/transfer advisement, academic/personal counseling, testing accommodations, campus and classroom accessibility information, training and awareness on independent living, assistive technology, and other disability-related issues, workshops, tutoring, and outreach.