Student Success – Adults with Mental Health Disabilities

1. Post-Secondary Orientation Strategies

-          the role and function of the Assessment Centre , Counsellors, Disabled Student Services, Access Aides,  Registrar, Library Services, etc.;

-          learning college/program procedures, policies.

    2.   Development of Basic Level Concept

-          listening skills;

-          initial main idea concepts (grouping and elemental writing);

-          learning strategies based on personal learning style;

-          attention to detail (literal comprehension);

-          organization skills such as precise thinking, restraint of impulsivity, elaboration of thought, and prediction model of learning (as opposed to trial and error).

    3.   Development of Advanced Level Concepts

-          advanced main idea concepts (basic formula model);

-          making  inferences, drawing conclusions, making judgments, reading between the lines, and hidden meanings;

-          note-taking (thesis/topic sentence, introduction and conclusion);

-          summarizing;

-          differentiating between fact and opinion (newspaper);    

-          comparison/contrast;

-          cause and effect relationship (perceived and actual) and estimation of outcome.

   4.  Personal Skills Development

-          the organization of notes and other materials for college courses;

-          development of a timeline;

-          development of a time management schedule;

-          test-taking strategies;

-          dealing with test/exam anxiety (strategies and specific relaxation exercise training);

-          communication skills.