Curry College

🏫 Disability Services Overview

Curry College's Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL) has been serving students with learning disabilities and ADHD since 1970 — making it one of the oldest and most experienced LD support programs in the country. Located just 7 miles from Boston, Curry is a small liberal arts college where the PAL program is a central, celebrated part of the institution's identity, not an afterthought.

Curry operates two service levels:

Tier 1: Standard Disability Services — Included with Enrollment

• Academic accommodations: extended test time, distraction-reduced testing, note-taking support
• Assistive technology access
• Faculty accommodation letters each semester
• Basic academic support through the tutoring center

Tier 2: PAL Program — Fee-Based, Intensive Support

• Weekly individual sessions with a dedicated PAL specialist (trained in LD and ADHD)
• Explicit strategy instruction: reading, writing, math, study skills, test preparation
• Executive function coaching: planning, organization, self-monitoring
• Language-based learning disability support (PAL has deep expertise in dyslexia)
• PAL Advisors — academic advisors who specialize in LD and work within the PAL framework
• Access to PAL's dedicated space: small group rooms, assistive technology, quiet work areas
• PAL-specific social programming and community events
• Graduate-level supervised tutoring

Staffing

PAL employs approximately 15–20 full-time specialists and uses supervised graduate student tutors. Given ~300 PAL students at a school of ~3,000, PAL students get meaningful individual attention. The student-to-specialist ratio is among the best of any fee-based program at a traditional college.

🧠 ADHD-Specific Support

Dedicated ADHD Coaching

Yes — PAL specialists are trained in both LD and ADHD support. The coaching model addresses the practical, academic impact of ADHD: task initiation, working memory challenges, time blindness, reading comprehension, writing organization. Sessions are individualized to your specific courses and current challenges.

Executive Function & Time Management

• Students learn personalized planning systems — not generic advice, but what actually works for your ADHD profile
• Backward-planning from deadlines, chunking assignments, building in buffer time
• Strategies for managing multiple course demands simultaneously
• Self-monitoring skills: checking your own comprehension and progress regularly
• Addressing task avoidance and procrastination with research-based approaches

Testing & Classroom Accommodations

• Extended time testing available through the PAL testing center
• Distraction-reduced environments with PAL-trained proctors
• Oral testing option for some students when appropriate
• PAL specialists help students use accommodations effectively, not just have them on paper

Language-Based Learning Disabilities

PAL has particular expertise in dyslexia and language-based LD, which commonly co-occur with ADHD. If your student has both ADHD and reading/writing challenges, PAL's dual expertise is a significant asset.

Medication Management

• Student health services on campus with medical staff who can coordinate ADHD medication management
• PAL advisors can connect students with community providers near campus (Milton/Boston area has excellent medical resources)
• Telehealth options are well-supported in the Boston metro area

Peer Community

• PAL has a strong internal community — students know each other through shared programming and the PAL space
• Peer tutoring from trained PAL upperclassmen
• Social events organized specifically for PAL students — reduces isolation

📋 Documentation & Neuropsychological Evaluation Requirements

Required Documentation

• Comprehensive psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist or educational specialist
• Evaluation must be within 3 years of enrollment (PAL reviews currency carefully for college-age students)
• DSM-5 diagnosis with documented diagnostic criteria
• Functional impact statement: how does the disability affect reading, writing, math, attention, and academic performance?
• Recommended accommodations tied to identified deficits

Required Evaluation Components

• Cognitive assessment: WAIS-IV or equivalent full cognitive battery with subtest scores and index scores
• Academic achievement: WIAT-III or WJ-IV Achievement — reading, written language, and mathematics
• Language processing: Phonological processing measures (CTOPP-2) are particularly valuable given PAL's LD/dyslexia expertise
• Attention/executive function: Validated rating scales (Conners-3, BASC-3) and/or performance-based measures
• Processing speed: WAIS-IV Processing Speed Index or equivalent
• Diagnostic conclusion: Clear DSM-5 diagnosis with clinician interpretation
• Clinician credentials: Licensed psychologist or educational specialist — stated in the report

Doctor's Letter or IEP Alone?

Neither is sufficient on its own. PAL requires the full evaluation. Your IEP history is valuable context for PAL specialists in understanding your profile, but the evaluation report is the core documentation requirement.

Cost & Access Context

• Private neuropsych evaluation: typically $2,500–$4,500
• Massachusetts school districts provide evaluations under IDEA — request a re-evaluation in junior year if yours is outdated
• Boston-area university training clinics (Boston University, Northeastern, Tufts) sometimes offer reduced-cost evaluations
• Massachusetts Vocational Rehabilitation (Mass Rehab Commission) may fund evaluations for eligible students

🎓 High School → College Transition Preparation

Timeline

• Sophomore/Junior Year: Research PAL program seriously — visit campus, attend an information session if possible. PAL holds information sessions for prospective students that are well worth attending.
• Junior Year: Confirm evaluation currency. If your eval is from 8th grade or earlier, schedule a new one now. Practice independence skills — PAL helps, but you still drive your own success.
• Senior Year (Fall): Apply to Curry and indicate PAL program interest on the application. PAL admission is separate — the sooner you apply, the better your placement.
• After Acceptance: Apply to PAL specifically. Attend PAL's admitted student events. Submit documentation.
• Summer Before College: Confirm your PAL placement and specialist. Set up medication management. Attend orientation.

PAL Application Process

PAL is not automatic with Curry admission — students apply to PAL separately and are placed based on documentation and interview. The PAL application typically involves submitting documentation, a student self-assessment, and sometimes a meeting with PAL staff. This selectivity ensures students who need and will use the program get placed; don't skip this step or delay it.

Self-Advocacy Transition

• At Curry/PAL, your weekly specialist meeting is structured, but you still own the work between sessions
• Practice asking for help before you're in crisis — identify small struggles early and bring them to your specialist
• Learn to use accommodation letters effectively: understand what you're entitled to and how to present your accommodations professionally to professors

Documentation to Gather Before Senior Year

• Full neuropsych/psychoeducational evaluation report
• Complete IEP or 504 plan (all years, ideally — shows accommodation history)
• Any letters from K-12 specialists documenting specific strategies that worked
• Medication records if relevant

Key Skills for PAL Success

• Honesty about what's working and what isn't — your PAL specialist can only help with what you share
• Consistent attendance at weekly sessions — the value compounds over time
• Willingness to try new strategies even when they feel awkward or unfamiliar
• Building a daily review habit: what did I accomplish today, what's due tomorrow?

Support Team Before College

• Establish care with a prescribing provider who can do telehealth or transition care to a Boston-area provider
• Continue therapy if you currently see a therapist — transition anxiety is real and worth addressing proactively
• Talk to your high school learning specialist about what strategies have been most effective — document this for your PAL intake

🎯 Practical Fit Notes

Who Thrives at Curry PAL?

• Students with diagnosed LD, ADHD, or dyslexia who need intensive, ongoing support — not just basic accommodations
• Students who struggled in large high school environments and need a smaller, more personally known academic community
• Students who will engage consistently with weekly specialist sessions and take coaching seriously
• Students interested in Curry's programs: education, criminal justice, nursing, communication, management
• Students who appreciate being 7 miles from Boston — great internship access, cultural resources, and healthcare options

Campus Environment

Curry's Milton campus is suburban and contained — manageable in size, with a community-feel. The location near Boston is a major plus: students can access the city via public transit, and the proximity to major hospitals, employers, and cultural institutions adds significant value. Campus life is quieter than a big state school, which many ADHD students actually prefer.

Cost Snapshot

• Tuition: approximately $42,000–$45,000/year
• Room and board: approximately $15,000/year
• PAL fee: approximately $5,000–$7,500/year (varies by service level)
• Total COA with PAL: approximately $62,000–$67,500/year before aid
• Curry offers merit aid; net price is often significantly lower than sticker price

❓ Questions to Ask Curry / PAL

1. What does the PAL application process look like, and how is placement determined — do all applicants get accepted, or is it competitive?
2. What's the typical caseload for a PAL specialist, and how often do first-year students meet with their specialist in the fall semester?
3. My student has both ADHD and dyslexia — does PAL have specialists with specific expertise in language-based LD alongside ADHD coaching?
4. How does PAL coordinate with Curry's academic advisors around course selection — especially for students who need a modified course load in the first semester?
5. What is PAL's retention and graduation data for program participants vs. the general Curry population?
6. Can we speak with a current PAL student or family member to hear about the real experience before making a decision?

🔗 Official Resources