Higher education can be both challenging and rewarding for many students with disabilities. It takes special planning and extra effort on the part of both the student and parents to make sure there is every opportunity for success. Preparation for success includes:
- Learn about the ways colleges serve students with disabilities.
- Develop self-advocacy skills.
- Enhance study skills.
- Cultivate independent living skills.
- Build personal care assistance management skills.
- Connect with Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Obtain assistive technology.
- Choose a college and connect with the department that provides services to students with disabilities.
- Provide current disability documentation.
These tips come from an article by Dorothy Wells, a Rehabilitation Counselor who has served students with disabilities in both community college and 4-year residential college settings. Read the complete article: Preparing Students with Disabilities for College.
Other Resources:
Preparing Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.
This site includes specific questions and answers on the topic and refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
College Autism Spectrum is an independent organization of professionals whose purpose is to provide college-level support and training for students with autism spectrum disorders, their families, and professionals
involved with the autism spectrum community.
For those with intellectual disabilities
Think College. Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass, Boston. Think College Insight Briefs provide a detailed discussion of topics related to postsecondary education for students with intellectual disability. The site also includes program stories, research reports and annual reports on related information.
Shepherds College is a Christian, three-year, post-secondary educational program in Union Grove, Wisconsin, for students with intellectual disabilities. They offer career skills, a smooth transition to appropriate independence, and a lasting awareness of God and God's plan for your life.
