Math Failure and Learning Disabilities in the Postsecondary Student Population

Abstract

Many students with learning disabilities have specific difficulties meeting the mathematics demands in postsecondary educational settings. Several factors contribute to these difficulties. Included among these are: (1) characteristics of learning disabilities in math, (2) inadequate preparation for postsecondary math demands, (3) difficulties with assessment and identification, and (4) heterogeneity of students with math learning disabilities. The purpose of this article is to discuss each of these factors and then provide recommendations for decreasing math failure among students with learning disabilities in postsecondary educational settings.