A Bridge to Independence
When children are in grade school or younger, parents and teachers more easily recognize the learning differences that exist within them, and readily establish different programs to meet the needs of these students. Generally, we are aware of students in kindergarten and their varying degrees of maturity and readiness to learn. Many schools have introduced "bridge" classes for kindergartners who are not ready for the first grade. Children are given an extra year in the bridge class to acquire information at their own pace. When such a class is not available, the repetition of kindergarten is suggested to give the child more time to develop, both academically and emotionally.
As a child grows older and enters more advanced educational years, like middle or high school, it becomes more difficult to slow the pace of learning. During these years, it is the responsible adults in the child's life who ensure that appropriate accommodations and therapy are provided to the child at school. Not only teachers and therapists, but parents also work very hard at home to help the child be successful in the face of his or her developmental challenges.
As the child matures into a young adult, we become less and less aware of and concerned about developmental issues. We assume that if a child has graduated from high school, he or she has managed to close the learning gaps. While most students are ready to take on the academic and social rigors of college life, some are not. There are a growing number of students who have not been able to develop the self-management skills needed to leave home, to be independent, and to be successful in college. It is everyone's desire that these stu-dents are able to leave the nurturing and supportive arms of their parents and teachers; however, the truth is that while it may still be easy to secure admission into a college, they may not have attained the developmental level to graduate from it.
By helping students understand the developmental issues that stand in the way of successfully "leaving home", they can become mature learners who are ready to take on the challenges of college life.