Guide to Coding With a Learning Disability

About 1 in 5 people, or about 66 million individuals in the United States, have a learning disability. Students of all learning abilities can learn to code. Coding bootcamps teach problem-solving and critical thinking and offer interview and job placement help.

Whether they study on campus or virtually from a remote location, some resources can benefit students with learning disabilities. Coding bootcamps provide alternative learning formats with asynchronous assignments and pre-recorded lectures that can support students with learning disabilities that affect oral language, reading, written language, or computation ability.

Learning disabilities can make school frustrating and create barriers to career opportunities. However, federal laws provide services and special accommodations at primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. Read this guide to learn more about common learning disabilities, laws that protect students, and resources to help people with learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities, not to be confused with learning problems, may become evident when a learner has genetic and neurobiological characteristics that affect learning processes in environments that are incompatible with those characteristics. A diagnosis for a learning disability — such as dyslexia and ADHD — often comes in childhood. Still, many people do not experience help or accommodation for their characteristics until adulthood, if at all.

The seven learning disabilities identified by the Learning Disabilities Association of America include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, nonverbal learning disabilities, and visual perceptual disabilities.

Although not considered a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often occurs alongside other disorders and disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD remains one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

Symptoms can evolve over time. People with ADHD may have a predominantly inattentive presentation, where they cannot focus on tasks, or a predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation, which causes impulsivity and constant movement. Others have combined presentation, in which the individual has symptoms of both types.

The federal government protects students with learning disabilities under various civil rights laws. Before the enactment of these laws, only 1 in 5 students with disabilities received an education in the United States. Laws even excluded children who had disabilities.

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federally-funded programs must provide services to “qualified individuals with disabilities,” including students with learning disabilities. Qualified students in grades K-12 and college cannot be discriminated against services and individual accommodations under 504. This helps students unqualify for services under Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA).

IDEA, enacted by Congress in 1975, provides special accommodations and funding for public schools. The law, amended through the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015, also offers grants through the U.S. Department of Education to support research and technical assistance at colleges and nonprofits.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, prevents discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the workplace, school, transportation, and other places of public accommodation.

Enacted in 2004, the Assistive Technology Act provides people with disabilities equal access to education and employment opportunities. Programs vary by state, with some states offering software, training, or equipment.

Most coding bootcamps begin with assessing your coding knowledge and ability to learn. Assessments may help students with learning disabilities to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Coding bootcamps offered through universities and private companies provide intensive training in a short time period. Unlike traditional college, which takes 2-4 years, coding bootcamps train students in months.

Not every coding bootcamp will offer the same services and accommodations to students with learning disabilities. Because learning disabilities vary in severity and symptoms, students should find a coding bootcamp that offers the best format, support services, and adaptive technology for their specific needs.

Support teams provide students with the tools to succeed, including professional development, one-on-one tutoring, and instructors who help students find the best way, such as visual learning, to understand computer science concepts.

Learning disabilities could impact a student’s ability to use numbers, focus, or stay organized. However, coding bootcamps offer flexible formats and self-paced options that may provide additional time to complete assignments.