Myths and Misconceptions Regarding Higher Education and Accommodations I can arrange with the college to wake me up in the mornings, make sure I get to class/exams, help me get organized, and remind me of deadlines. Items of a personal nature are the responsibility of the student. It is also reasonable for the institution to expect that students can get to class and be responsible as part of being "otherwise qualified". Parents or the advisor/counselor will enroll me in college. Students are responsible for selecting courses and enrolling each semester. Working with academic advisors and factoring-in disability-related needs is important in course selection. Colleges provide LD and AD/HD testing. Students are required to provide documentation of their disability prior to receiving accommodations. Additionally, colleges have the right to establish their documentation criteria. Insufficient documentation is the responsibility of the student. Some colleges may have on-campus resources that do evaluations less expensively. Because of my disability, admission and/or graduation requirements can be altered/flexible. Established requirements--admission, graduation, course(s), GPA, code of conduct, etc--are the same for all students. Accommodations may be appropriate dependent upon the "essential elements" of the program. However, the same standard exists, and students with disabilities are equally accountable. Colleges will provide me transportation from my home/apartment to campus. Equal access to transportation is required. If no transportation exists, there is no responsibility to create a system for students with disabilities. So, be sure to identify what college and/or public transportation exists. Where you live may also be important in terms of proximity to campus or a bus route. The college will provide the same services and modifications as the high school IEP. The IEP is specific to K-12. Accommodations in higher education are determined by disability documentation and substantial limitation due to the disability. Also, some services provided in K-12 may be inappropriate in higher education (e.g., shorter assignments/exams). Determining the availability of accommodations in college is NOT solely based on whether an IEP existed (or not) in high school.
Myths and Misconceptions Regarding Higher Education and Accommodations I can arrange with the college to wake me up in the mornings, make sure I get to class/exams, help me get organized, and remind me of deadlines. Items of a personal nature are the responsibility of the student. It is also reasonable for the institution to expect that students can get to class and be responsible as part of being "otherwise qualified". Parents or the advisor/counselor will enroll me in college. Students are responsible for selecting courses and enrolling each semester. Working with academic advisors and factoring-in disability-related needs is important in course selection. Colleges provide LD and AD/HD testing. Students are required to provide documentation of their disability prior to receiving accommodations. Additionally, colleges have the right to establish their documentation criteria. Insufficient documentation is the responsibility of the student. Some colleges may have on-campus resources that do evaluations less expensively. Because of my disability, admission and/or graduation requirements can be altered/flexible. Established requirements--admission, graduation, course(s), GPA, code of conduct, etc--are the same for all students. Accommodations may be appropriate dependent upon the "essential elements" of the program. However, the same standard exists, and students with disabilities are equally accountable. Colleges will provide me transportation from my home/apartment to campus. Equal access to transportation is required. If no transportation exists, there is no responsibility to create a system for students with disabilities. So, be sure to identify what college and/or public transportation exists. Where you live may also be important in terms of proximity to campus or a bus route. The college will provide the same services and modifications as the high school IEP. The IEP is specific to K-12. Accommodations in higher education are determined by disability documentation and substantial limitation due to the disability. Also, some services provided in K-12 may be inappropriate in higher education (e.g., shorter assignments/exams). Determining the availability of accommodations in college is NOT solely based on whether an IEP existed (or not) in high school.
Myths_and_Misconceptions_Regarding_Higher_Education_and_Accommodations.docx