College Disability Services Directors’ Advice & Information
Defining Success for College Students with Disabilities
“I felt the tug of wanting to do certain things that matched the “underdog” narratives that are so often a feature of the stories of successful individuals with disabilities.”
Are Assignment Deadline Extensions a Commonly Approved Disability Accommodation at College?
“Think about it this way – we give extended time on in-class tests because the impacts/limitations of the student’s disability would preclude the opportunity for the student to produce the same level and amount of response as his/her classmates in a given amount of time. All students have a limited time to produce their answers, and this student’s disability means that additional time will be needed. Since there is no additional time available in a two-hour exam period, this student needs to be formally granted an extended time limit to have equal access.”
When College Disability Services Offices or Professors Say No to an Accommodation
“[sometimes] they aren’t found eligible for accommodations because [their documentation] doesn’t demonstrate…a substantial limitation…”
Accommodations Alone Aren’t the Key To College Success For Students with Disabilities
“…if students don’t know understand what’s been discussed in class and covered in the readings, it doesn’t matter how much time they get to take the test. A lot should happen before students take a test.”
College Search and Preparation Resources for Students with Different Types of Disabilities
“An additional shift for students with disabilities is that the system for…accommodations is different [from] one they are used to.”
Challenging Assumptions About Different Types of Colleges and Students with LD and ADHD
“[Adults] shouldn’t assume that students having difficulty with academic subjects will be more interested in and excited by art…”
College Disability Services Directors’ Advice for Students
Introduction When students with disabilities transition to college, they will have to adjust to the new environment. Like their typical peers, they will likely have to find new ways to study and learn. And if they want to receive accommodations, they will also have to...
How Parents Can Prepare Their Student with a Disability for College Success
“Start practicing being the ‘cheerleader’ instead of the main person who’s responsible.”
How Professionals Can Prepare Students with Disabilities for Successful College Transition
“Professionals need to be clear in telling students that their IEP and 504 plan doesn’t carry over to college. Some students come in with an IEP or 504 plan and they think they’ll get everything written into it.”
Do College Disability Services Offices Communicate with Parents?
“But FERPA doesn’t require us to provide information outside of that record. So if we don’t have access to their grades, we won’t seek it out.”
Why Aren’t Some Students with Disabilities Successful at College?
“… when something goes wrong in college, they blame everyone else. They don’t recognize that it’s their decisions whether or not to reach out for resources, how they use time, etc., that make the difference in their level of success.”
What You Need to Know About College Disability Accommodations
“Not everyone who requests copies of someone else’s notes gets approved for this. We may instead approve them to record lectures so they can fill in gaps in their own notes.”