Students who complete high school have several postsecondary options. Unfortunately, many high school graduates, including students with disabilities, are not adequately prepared to succeed in postsecondary education.
The following Resources links provide information on identifying, evaluating, and preparing for postsecondary options.
Career and Adult Education, Rhode Island Department of Education
http://www.ride.ri.gov/adulteducation/default.aspx
Provides links to information on postsecondary education options in Rhode Island including career planning and resources, adult education, career academies, apprenticeships, industry certifications, the General Educational Development (GED) diploma, and other resources related to career and technical education.
FACTS.org
Provides information and resources for middle school, high school, and college students regarding finding a college or program, paying for college, and applying for college as well as information for counselors and educators.
Going To College
http://www.going-to-college.org/
Designed to help high school students with disabilities prepare for college by providing a safe place to learn about themselves, what to expect in college, advocating for themselves, and selecting a college that is a good match for their interests and needs. Each section is introduced by videos of college students who describe their college experiences. Resources include a student portfolio and information for parents and educators, including “teacher toolbox” activities for use in the classroom.
Preparing for Postsecondary Education
http://www.ncset.org/topics/preparing/default.asp?topic=6
Provides an overview of self-advocacy, rights, responsibilities, and other issues students with disabilities need to consider when exploring postsecondary education.
Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
Provides information on the civil rights of students with disabilities regarding the admissions process, disability documentation, and disability support services. Also identifies eight keys to success including taking an appropriate preparatory curriculum in high school and carefully researching postsecondary programs.
Effective College Planning
Provides helpful information regarding the shift from high school to college for students with disabilities including transition planning, legal rights and responsibilities, choosing a college, and college success. Published in 2007 by the Western New York Collegiate Consortium of Disability Advocates (WNY-CCDA).
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Disclosing a Disability/Requesting Accommodations
High school and postsecondary education are very different in terms of disability law and expectations for students and institutions. For a discussion of these differences, see the Transition Wheel spoke on Postsecondary Access (coming soon).
In summary, for postsecondary education:
- If and when to disclose a disability are important, personal choices, sometimes involving complex factors, for which students should be adequately prepared.
- Students must advocate for themselves by requesting accommodations through the Disability Support Services office, if there is one, or through the student services office of the institution.
- Students who disclose must provide the necessary documentation if requested.
- Postsecondary institutions and employers must provide reasonable accommodations, so some accommodation requests may be denied or alternative accommodations may be proposed.
- Modifications that change or reduce the content or other characteristics of the curriculum are generally not allowed.
- Students may need to educate professors and instructors about their accommodations.
Below is a list of links to Rhode Island’s Colleges and Universities’ Disability Services offices.
Rhode Island’s College’s and Universities’ Disability Services Links
University of Rhode Island
http://www.uri.edu/disability/dss/
Community College of Rhode Island
Rhode Island College
http://www.ric.edu/disabilityservices/
New England Institute of Technology
http://www.neit.edu/index.cfm?pg=166&pgtitle=Support-Services
Providence College
http://www.providence.edu/academic-services/services/Pages/disability.aspx
Bryant University
Roger Williams University
http://www2.rwu.edu/academics/centers/cad/dss/
Johnson & Wales University
http://www.jwu.edu/content.aspx?id=278
Salve Regina University
http://web.salve.edu/offices/disabilityservices/
Brown University
http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Office_of_Student_Life/dss/
Rhode Island School of Design
http://www.risd.edu/Students/Wellness/Disability_Support/
Additional Resources:
ThinkCollege! Summary of High School/College Differences
http://www.thinkcollege.net/for-students/understanding-college/high-schoolcollege-differences
This chart summarizes 12 important differences between disability services in high school and postsecondary settings, beginning with "The most important thing to know is that in college you are expected to speak for yourself."
Self-Determination for Postsecondary Students
http://www.ncset.org/topics/sdpse/default.asp?topic=7
Explores how self-determination—the combined skills of self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-efficacy, decision-making, independent performance, self-evaluation, and adjustment—can contribute to an individual’s ability to establish and achieve his or her own goals during and after higher education.
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure
Helps youth make informed decisions on whether and how to disclose a disability including advantages and disadvantages, rights and responsibilities under the law, accommodations, and disclosing in postsecondary, employment, community, and social settings.
Cyber Disclosure for Youth with Disabilities
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/cyber-disclosure
This supplement to The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities provides suggestions for making informed decisions about disclosing a disability on-line and managing disclosure on-line.
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Families, Educators, Youth Service Professionals, and Adult Allies Who Care About Youth with Disabilities
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure-for-adults
This workbook from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth helps caring adults make informed decisions about 1) teaching a young person about his or her rights and responsibilities in disclosing a disability and 2) supporting a young person in becoming more independent and self-sufficient.
Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html
Explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools. It also explains the obligations of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability. From the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U. S. Department of Education.
Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
Provides information on the civil rights of students with disabilities regarding the admissions process, disability documentation, and disability support services. Also identifies eight keys to success such as understanding your disability, accepting responsibility for your success, learning time management and computer skills, and getting involved on campus.
