When making the decision to move from high school to college students and families should:
Seek information
• Investigate a variety of institutions of higher education (IHE)
• Review degree offerings of the IHE
Do they match the student’s interests?
• What accommodations and services are available?
Students need to self-advocate. The IHE will not identify students with
disabilities. Students must identify themselves, their disability, and needs.
IHE may require the following:
• A current evaluation team report (ETR)
• An adult IQ test
• Evidence of a disability; either a medical or psychological report
• Summary of Performance
• The student’s ability to communicate his/her disability and the accommodations
he/she received in high school
IHE provide different accommodations and different levels of assistance. Also, some assistance requires additional fees. Once students graduate from high school, they are no longer entitled to receive services/accommodations. They must now meet eligibility requirements to receive services/accommodations. These services are determined by the IHE’s Office of Disability Services.
Seek information from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights via their publication:
Students With Disabilities Preparing For Post-secondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (copies available by calling 1.877.433.7827).
Top Ten Questions to Ask the Office of Disability Services (source: www.LDonline.org)
1. What specific disability documentation is required to access services?
2. How many students are presently being served by the Office of Disability
Services?
3. How many staff members work in the Office of Disability Services?
4. How are teaching staff notified of the academic accommodations for a student
with a disability?
5. Are there any fees for the services or accommodations?
6. What does the disability specialist recommend that students with disabilities do
to prepare for higher education?
7. What types off assistive technology are available to students and how do they
access this technology?
8. What types of tutoring are available for students with disabilities?
9. Does the Office of Disability Services have a list of the accommodations and
services available at their institution?
10. Are substitute courses available for particular required college courses based
on appropriate disability documentation?
Transition to College Resource Links
• www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
• www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20070316.pdf
• www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/parent-20070316.pdf
• www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html
• ada.osu.edu/resources/college_accomodation.html
• ahead.org/resources/best-practices-resources
• www.going-to-college.org/
• www.researchautism.org/resources/AspergerDVDSeries.asp
• www.ncld.org/images/stories/downloads/parent_center/transition_to_college.pdf
