Introduction
The system for getting disability accommodations at college works very differently than it does in high school. Students must initiate and complete the process. During that process, they’ll likely have to provide documentation of their disability (i.e., paperwork showing that they have a disability) and make specific requests for accommodations.
Despite what you may have heard, the laws that prevail at the college level (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act) don’t tell colleges what documentation they must, can, or can’t require. (States may have their own mandates about this.) And also despite what you may have heard, colleges don’t have to find students eligible for accommodations simply because they’ve had accommodations before in K12.
To get an extensive understanding of what colleges may or may not require, how to find these equirements, and for information on what students should do if they’re not found eligible, read Elizabeth’s book, 7 Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities. (Elizabeth is considered an expert on preparing students with disabilities for successful college transition.)
Elizabeth also provides numerous free resources—written posts on her blog here and on Substack and brief and longer videos.
College Disability Documentation Information
Click on each text or image below to read, watch, or listen.
