Students with a diagnosed disability have several rights upon completion of high school under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), however, services are not provided automatically. To receive accommodations, students must disclose his or her disability to employers, understand and request reasonable accommodations, and be able to provide proof of disability. It is extremely important that students understand how their disability impacts them during the school/work day and can describe accommodations that have helped them achieve success in the past.

Accommodations provided by the ADA may be different from those provided by an IEP. Accommodations that the ADA may provide include:

• Breaking large tasks into smaller parts.
• Checklists, symbols, pictures instead of words.
• Alarm watch or beeper for time management.
• Magnification or computer screens.
• Adjustable tables or chairs.

This site provides reasonable accommodations listed by disability.

Here is a great resource on how to help your child disclose their disability in an appropriate and timely manner.

A booklet from the U.S. Department of Education on the rights of students with disabilities.