Needs of Learning Disabled Adults

Abstract

The results of a needs assessment of learning disabled adults based on surveys of the perceptions of learning disabled adults, providers of services to learning disabled adults, and consumers or advocates for learning disabilities are presented. The results of the survey of the learning disabled adults, service providers, and consumers indicate that learning disabled adults have major academic, social, personal, and vocational needs that must be addressed if they are to attain adult competence. A comparison across all need areas indicated that service providers and consumers identified vocational needs involving securing an appropriate job and vocational rehabilitation services as the most critical need area of learning disabled adults, with a second need area involving learning disabled adults' poor self-concept, lack of self-understanding, and lack of self-acceptance. Recommendations are made for services in academics, secondary and post-secondary vocational training, social skills, and counseling and psychotherapy.