Has anyone been successful in actually achieving a math substitution. Over three years ago, I was diagnosed with discalculas i.e., math learning disability, and the college testing center recommended that I should be able to take a substitute class rather than math. Naturally, this was rejected by the dean who obviously didn't comprehend learning disabilities. I switched schools hoping to find a more sympathetic dean, to no avail. I simply cannot do Math. the College in their infinite greed require me to do math despite my documented learning disabilities. I even know a guy in my class who had a massive stroke at the age of 35, and obviously has profound difficulties with short term memory and mathmatics, the fascists at the college still require him to complete college algebra, which sent him back to the hospital. Sorry for the rant, but isn't there more (people with Math disabilities) could do to get a substitutions. Doesn't the Americans with Disabilites Act have any weight.

Is there any kind of diabilities advocate at your school? I'm thinking like someone who deals with the paperwork for accomodations and such. I'd talk to them. Or even a psych services counselor might know what you can do.

-g

Maybe a multiple choice (M/C) exam?

ADHD does tend to cause 'executive dysfunction' and 'working memory' impairments. (This would affect problem solving with equations and using formulas, as well as the sequencing and ordering of the steps.)


Another thing to ask about is if you can be marked on your 'work' in each step of solving the problems, not just pass/fail for the "correct final answer" in your solutions.


e.g. 9/10 steps can be correct, but if the last step of the solution is not correct, the final answer is 'incorrect'. I feel that to give a "0" for this is wrong. The mark should be "0.9/1.0" marks, for that answer.

What is your major, and what is the official math requirement for that major? And have you looked through your course catalog and checked on all the classes that count as "math"?

Obviously it will be easier to get out of a "math" requirement if your major is English Literature than it would be if your major is Economics. And you might find something that you can do in that course catalog that counts as "math" but does not require too much actual mathematics - like geometry for instance. Perhaps there's even something like "History of Math" that wants you to learn the names of the people who invented algebra or the concept of 0. Worth a try, anyway.

Math substitution can be pretty tricky. Additionally, if you take your major seriously, you should just knuckle down and take the course. My guess is that you don't have to take anything difficult, probably just college algebra, MAYBE some type of business calc. These courses are not difficult for the dedicated student.
I think what you'll find is that the difficulty of a course is directly dictated by the professors commitment and teaching style. your goal should be to find a professor who is serious about teaching the class, and teaches in a very "hands on" manner. A professor who just lectures off of slides photocopied from the book can be extremely trying.
If you do indeed have dyscalculia, your goal should be to teach yourself a method for conceptualizing the process at hand. Most who suffer from this disorder lack the fundemental ability to conceptualize numerical quantities and the inherent processes involved.
Regardless of your disability, you should strive to understand some fundemental core of mathematics. It is the language which is utilitzed in understanding the world in which we live. Don't let your difficulty dissuade you from leaning math, make it drive you.
Last, just remember that math doesn't actually come easy to anyone. What actually happens is that some people work their asses of and some people don't. That's good and bad, because although there are no shortcuts you can take, it means that the playing field is usually level.

I'm in engineering, and i've taken four levels of calculus along with differential equations, linear algebra, transformational algorithms, etc... Take it from me, even as a "gifted" student, it was a HUGE struggle, you just have to want it bad enough.

In my math class , he give the problem like

2(3x +3) =

A. 6+5 B. 5x +6 C. 6x+ 9 D. None of these



if you got C Your right!

2(3x +3) = 6x+ 9
-bangs head on desk-