College Planning for College Planning for Students with Students with

DisabilitiesDisabilities

Disability LegislationDisability Legislation The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, Subpart E:The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, Subpart E:

Requires that an institution which receives any federal financial Requires that an institution which receives any federal financial assistance be prepared to make appropriate academic assistance be prepared to make appropriate academic adjustments and reasonable modifications to policies and adjustments and reasonable modifications to policies and practices in order to allow the full participation of students with practices in order to allow the full participation of students with disabilities in the same programs and activities available to disabilities in the same programs and activities available to non-disabled students.non-disabled students.

What is Section 504?What is Section 504?

Civil rights, anti-discrimination statueCivil rights, anti-discrimination statue Ensures that people with disabilities are not denied Ensures that people with disabilities are not denied

equal access or benefits from any federally funded equal access or benefits from any federally funded program or activityprogram or activity

Disability: physical or mental impairment which Disability: physical or mental impairment which substantially limits major life activity (e.g. education)substantially limits major life activity (e.g. education)

Student must be “otherwise qualified” (meet usual Student must be “otherwise qualified” (meet usual academic requirements for admission or participation academic requirements for admission or participation in program)in program)

How Does 504 Protect You?How Does 504 Protect You? No admissions quotasNo admissions quotas No disclosure requirementsNo disclosure requirements ““Reasonable accommodations” in Reasonable accommodations” in

program, instruction, and testingprogram, instruction, and testing

Differences Between High School and CollegeDifferences Between High School and College Less time in class, less access to teachersLess time in class, less access to teachers More time spent studyingMore time spent studying Larger class sizes (will vary depending on colleges)Larger class sizes (will vary depending on colleges) Mostly long-term assignments (not daily homework)Mostly long-term assignments (not daily homework) Not as much teacher feedbackNot as much teacher feedback More objective grading – not based on effort or improvementMore objective grading – not based on effort or improvement Teaching style more likely to be straight lectureTeaching style more likely to be straight lecture Hard to balance social life and academicsHard to balance social life and academics

Admissions TestsAdmissions Tests With proper documentation, students with With proper documentation, students with

disabilities may take standardized college disabilities may take standardized college admissions tests, such as the PSAT, SAT, admissions tests, such as the PSAT, SAT, and ACT with individually determined and ACT with individually determined accommodations. accommodations.

Obtain an SSD formObtain an SSD form

VESIDVESID VESID – is the office of Vocational and Educational Services for VESID – is the office of Vocational and Educational Services for

Individuals with Disabilities. VESID counselors can help:Individuals with Disabilities. VESID counselors can help: Plan for your careerPlan for your career Obtain job coachingObtain job coaching Get training to achieve your work goalsGet training to achieve your work goals Find a job that matches your abilities, interests, and needsFind a job that matches your abilities, interests, and needs Work with your employer or college to make sure you receive Work with your employer or college to make sure you receive

reasonable accommodations when you need them. reasonable accommodations when you need them.

1111thth grade students are invited to a group presentation with a VESID grade students are invited to a group presentation with a VESID counselor in Februarycounselor in February

1212thth grade students meet individually with a VESID counselor in grade students meet individually with a VESID counselor in December or January December or January

Making the Match:Making the Match:

Does the college match Does the college match your needs?your needs?

Degree and Vocational Degree and Vocational OptionsOptions

Extra-Curricular Programs Extra-Curricular Programs and Internshipsand Internships

Size/Location/Student BodySize/Location/Student Body Support ServicesSupport Services

Diagnostic TestingDiagnostic Testing Special AdvisingSpecial Advising Modifications/Modifications/ AccommodationsAccommodations

Information you should know about Information you should know about yourself:yourself:

Your type of disability and how it affects Your type of disability and how it affects your learningyour learning

Activities you are good at and/or like doingActivities you are good at and/or like doing The support services and The support services and

accommodations you used in H.S. accommodations you used in H.S. The support services and The support services and

accommodations you plan to use in accommodations you plan to use in collegecollege

Questions to Ask When Questions to Ask When Researching CollegesResearching Colleges

What types of academic accommodations What types of academic accommodations and assistive technology are available?and assistive technology are available?

How do I acquire support services? How do I acquire support services? Tutors, alternative testing, note takers, etc.Tutors, alternative testing, note takers, etc.

Is a reduced course load possible if Is a reduced course load possible if needed? Are there placement tests?needed? Are there placement tests?

Is there a cost associated with any support Is there a cost associated with any support service?service?

Application ProcessApplication Process Students with disabilities may consider the Students with disabilities may consider the

option of disclosing their disability during the option of disclosing their disability during the application process application process

This allows the student the opportunity to This allows the student the opportunity to provide the admissions committee with provide the admissions committee with additional insights. additional insights.

The College Admissions ProcessThe College Admissions Process

The student should apply through the The student should apply through the Undergraduate Admissions OfficeUndergraduate Admissions Office

Some schools ask if you have a disability Some schools ask if you have a disability on the application but it cannot be a on the application but it cannot be a mandatory question.mandatory question.

Meet with the disabilities coordinator to Meet with the disabilities coordinator to discuss accommodationsdiscuss accommodations

Provide appropriate and current Provide appropriate and current documentationdocumentation

Required DocumentationRequired Documentation

A copy of your psycho-educational testing must be A copy of your psycho-educational testing must be handed in to the college handed in to the college must be comprehensive and current – less than three must be comprehensive and current – less than three

years old – and must include diagnosisyears old – and must include diagnosis Minimum testing: IQ test (WAIS-III) and achievement Minimum testing: IQ test (WAIS-III) and achievement

test (WIAT-II)test (WIAT-II)

IEP’s, triennial reports and 504 plans are not IEP’s, triennial reports and 504 plans are not considered appropriate documentation in college considered appropriate documentation in college

This is because college presents different This is because college presents different demands than in high school and the nature of the demands than in high school and the nature of the disability may change.disability may change.

Documenting your DisabilityDocumenting your Disability

Must be prepared by an appropriate Must be prepared by an appropriate professional: medical doctor, psychologist, or professional: medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnosticianother qualified diagnostician

The college will not pay for the updating of The college will not pay for the updating of required documentsrequired documents

Types of support servicesTypes of support services

Each college determines the types of Each college determines the types of disability support services that will be disability support services that will be availableavailable Typical accommodations include tutoring, Typical accommodations include tutoring,

note taking, alternative testing note taking, alternative testing accommodations, computer access, and other accommodations, computer access, and other assistive technologyassistive technology

It is important to meet with the coordinator It is important to meet with the coordinator for services as early as possible if you are for services as early as possible if you are anticipating using accommodations.anticipating using accommodations.

High School Vs. CollegeHigh School Vs. College

◊ The student must meet the college’s The student must meet the college’s admissions standardsadmissions standards

◊ Student is responsible for seeking and Student is responsible for seeking and using accommodationsusing accommodations

◊ Student is responsible for obtaining Student is responsible for obtaining evaluation and developing their planevaluation and developing their plan

◊ College communicates with student: not College communicates with student: not parents!parents!

◊ Students must be their own advocatesStudents must be their own advocates

Advocate for yourselfAdvocate for yourself

Once the student has been admitted to a Once the student has been admitted to a college, it is the student’s responsibility to self-college, it is the student’s responsibility to self-identify and provide documentation of the identify and provide documentation of the disability.disability.

No one holds your hand in college or makes No one holds your hand in college or makes decisions for you. It is up to you to take charge decisions for you. It is up to you to take charge now. You must:now. You must: Identify your needsIdentify your needs Document your needsDocument your needs Request accommodations to meet your needsRequest accommodations to meet your needs Utilize the accommodations appropriatelyUtilize the accommodations appropriately

Be ProactiveBe Proactive Introduce yourself to each of your professors in Introduce yourself to each of your professors in

the beginning of each semester to discuss how the beginning of each semester to discuss how you will use your accommodations in each classyou will use your accommodations in each class

Comprehensive Services Vs. Comprehensive Services Vs. ProgramsPrograms

Support ServicesSupport Services are the resources are the resources available at no cost for students with available at no cost for students with disabilities. They include core disabilities. They include core accommodations, such as extended accommodations, such as extended testing time. Accommodations are testing time. Accommodations are required by law. Other examples include required by law. Other examples include sign language interpreters, course sign language interpreters, course materials in accessible forms, accessible materials in accessible forms, accessible parking and classrooms. parking and classrooms.

Comprehensive Programs Vs. Comprehensive Programs Vs. ServicesServices

ProgramsPrograms are specifically designed for students are specifically designed for students with disabilities and provide more in-depth with disabilities and provide more in-depth services and accommodations. The most services and accommodations. The most common type are programs for students with common type are programs for students with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD. These learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD. These programs usually have costs in addition to programs usually have costs in addition to tuition. They often provide one-one-one tutoring tuition. They often provide one-one-one tutoring and advisement with a learning disability and advisement with a learning disability specialist. specialist.

Not all colleges have programs. Not all colleges have programs.

Basic Program: “Reasonable Basic Program: “Reasonable Accommodations”Accommodations”

Basic testing and program accommodationsBasic testing and program accommodations Learning or writing centers available to all studentsLearning or writing centers available to all students Disclose disability upon admissionDisclose disability upon admission Disability contact person wears many hats and may Disability contact person wears many hats and may

have no specialized traininghave no specialized training

Almost every college offers at least these services Almost every college offers at least these services

Moderate ProgramModerate Program

Learning Centers specifically for students with disabilitiesLearning Centers specifically for students with disabilities Mix of peer and professional tutorsMix of peer and professional tutors Support with writing or study skillsSupport with writing or study skills Testing and program accommodationsTesting and program accommodations May be a feeMay be a fee

Nassau, SUNY Albany, American U., Fairfield U., Drexel Nassau, SUNY Albany, American U., Fairfield U., Drexel U., NYU, Syracuse U., U. of Wisconsin, U. of Hartford, U., NYU, Syracuse U., U. of Wisconsin, U. of Hartford,

Marist CollegeMarist College

Comprehensive ProgramComprehensive Program Coordinator has expertise in LD and ADDCoordinator has expertise in LD and ADD Wide range of tutorial supportsWide range of tutorial supports Structured and individualized approachStructured and individualized approach Advisement and early registrationAdvisement and early registration Frequent monitoring of student progressFrequent monitoring of student progress Limited “slots” – special application, apply earlyLimited “slots” – special application, apply early May be a substantial feeMay be a substantial fee May have summer transition program for freshmenMay have summer transition program for freshmen

Adelphi U., CW Post, Hofstra, Northeastern U., U. of Arizona, Curry Adelphi U., CW Post, Hofstra, Northeastern U., U. of Arizona, Curry College, Lynn University, Boston University, U. of New EnglandCollege, Lynn University, Boston University, U. of New England

Students Must Know Themselves:Students Must Know Themselves:

Understand and be able to describe their Understand and be able to describe their strengths and weaknessesstrengths and weaknesses

Understand their disabilities and the Understand their disabilities and the accommodations they needaccommodations they need

Develop academic and career goalsDevelop academic and career goals Develop and use effective strategies for Develop and use effective strategies for

studying, test preparation, and time studying, test preparation, and time managementmanagement

Develop and contain a file of current school Develop and contain a file of current school records and disability documentation informationrecords and disability documentation information

Key Factors to Student SuccessKey Factors to Student Success Level of InterestLevel of Interest MotivationMotivation IndependenceIndependence Self-DirectionSelf-Direction Self-Advocacy SkillsSelf-Advocacy Skills Knowledge about SelfKnowledge about Self Academic AbilitiesAcademic Abilities Acquiring Information about College Programs and Acquiring Information about College Programs and

ServicesServices Utilizing Appropriate Resources for SupportUtilizing Appropriate Resources for Support

Any Questions?Any Questions?