4/6/2022
To access accommodations after high school, youth must define their disability and identify helpful accommodations. The transition to college is difficult enough for any student, especially those with disabilities. (We recently posted a blog on "asking for accommodations at work," - and we encourage you to check out those resources.) Navigating any new accommodation system can be highly challenging. As colleges are not required to monitor students or recognize when a student may need accommodations, students must be able to self-advocate for themselves.
High school educators and parents can help play an essential role in preparing students with disabilities for requesting accommodations in college. Students need to be able to articulate the impact of their disability in the academic setting. However, many students do not know how to describe their disability's impact at school or home. To help get your student/child started, there are a few recommended questions to ask them. After they complete the questions, go over the accommodations they think they are currently are receiving and the ones listed on their IEP and compare them. Then, have students discuss if they are necessary. These questions will help them explain why they need the accommodations. Students do not necessarily need a deep understanding of which accommodations are possible, but they should be able to explain the challenges they face.
Many students with disabilities can often receive the same accommodations in college as they did in high school. For example, if a student needs a note-taker in high school, that is always an option for college. However, some might not be appropriate for college students. A high school student might get an opportunity to retake a test as many times as possible in high school. However, they likely will not be able to do this in college because it crosses the boundary of providing equal access.
When students can self-advocate for themselves and learn about their accommodations, they will be able to use them to become successful. Therefore, knowing when support is needed, where to go for support, and how to seek this support appropriately are important components of self-advocacy.