1 Ukwueze, A. C. (2021). Academic counselling strategies for students with learning disabilities in open and distance learning institutions. In U. S. A. Osuji (Ed.). Educational issues, developments and innovations: A festschrift in honour of Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu (176-193). Abuja; NOUN Press. ISBN: 978-978-058-068- 1 Academic Counselling Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities in Open and Distance Learning Institutions Augustine C. Ukwueze, Ph.D. Department of Educational Foundations National Open University of Nigeria Jabi, Abuja Nigeria. acukwueze@gmail.com Abstract Learning disabilities are disorders in psychological activities that are key to understanding or acquiring knowledge, which manifest in inability to read, write, listen, speak, form words, spell, and engage in mathematical calculations. This chapter looks at the academic counselling strategies needed to assist students with learning disabilities in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions. The forms of learning disabilities as identified here include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, auditory processing disorder, and visual processing disorder, which are characterized by poor reading skill, poor hand writing, inability to engage in mathematical calculations and poor motor coordination skills. Some of the consequences of learning disabilities are poor academic performance, rejection, loss of values and self-concept, social isolation, and negative perception of the worth of academic activities. The causal factors of learning disabilities include biological and environmental factors, carelessness, nervousness, and related school variables. Learning disabilities can be sorted out by academic counsellors using appropriate counselling strategies like instructional counselling, confrontation, peer tutoring, mentoring, scaffolding and assertive training. It is suggested that counsellors in the ODL institutions should be equipped with necessary counselling materials and regularly attend seminars, conferences and workshops to acquire the knowledge necessary to assist students with learning disabilities. Keywords: Counselling, students, learning disabilities, ODL.