Parents and Families
Understanding the Differences Between High School and College
There are many differences between high school and college obligations to students with disabilities. The public school system is required under the law to provide special education to ensure that each and every student meets with success. The college and university sector, however, is not required under the law to ensure success but is required to ensure access and that a student is not discriminated against based on having a disability.
High schools must:
- Identify students with disabilities.
- Provide assessment of disabilities.
- Involve parents in decision-making and educational planning process.
- Provide non-academic services.
- Modify educational programs, standards, teaching methodologies and sometimes even provide an out of district placement.
- Prepare Individual Education Plans (IEP)s or 504 plans depending on student eligibility.
- Provide a free and appropriate education that ensures student success.
Post-secondary institutions must:
- Protect the student’s right to privacy and confidentiality (this includes conversations with parents)
- Provide equal access to programs and services that are offered to non-disabled students
- Make information available to students regarding office locations and procedures for requesting accommodations
- Evaluate documentation
- Determine whether the student’s disability substantially limits one or more major life activities which would qualify the student for accommodations.
- Provide reasonable accommodations, meaning those accommodations that enable the student to compete equitably with their non-disabled peers
- Provide reasonable and equal access to generally available programs
- Make reasonable classroom adjustments that do not alter the integrity or essential components or technical standards of a course or program
- Inform students of their rights and responsibilities
Post-secondary institutions are NOT required to:
- Reduce or waive the essential requirements of a course or program
- Provide evaluations or testing to diagnosis a disability
- Provide personal attendants
- Provide tutoring beyond what is available to all students
- Prepare IEPs or 504 plans
- Ensure a student is academically successful
- Keep parents informed
The student is responsible for:
- Disclosing his/her/their disability to the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources and provide appropriate documentation, the college may request additional information. Know about the nature of their disability and how accommodations help
- Acting on his/her/their own behalf as an independent adult
- Discussing classroom and testing accommodations with faculty members in accordance with college policy
- Arranging and paying for personal care attendants if needed
Students who attend college are considered to be adults, protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources staff cannot talk to parents about confidential information, including academic activities without a student’s written permission. Parents need to talk to the student directly. Students act as responsible adults when disclosing disabilities and requesting accommodations.
How Parents Can Help their Student
- Listen and provide support and consultation, but give your student the space to figure it out on their own. Resist the urge to “fix” their problem.
- Encourage them to make connections. Direct your student to speak with the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources, their professors, their academic advisor, and other individuals who can assist them while at the College.
- Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Mistakes are part of the learning process; allow them to learn from their experiences.
- Help promote your student’s self advocacy by encouraging them to set their own goals and take ownership of their education.
- The Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources welcomes parents’ appropriate involvement. However: be aware that because of FERPA, the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources professionals cannot share information with parents without a student’s written permission.
- Trust the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources process. Our role is to guide students through this developmental process in order to help them become independent and responsible adults. Parents and College staff are on the same team and want the same ultimate goal: a fully functioning adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are students obligated to inform institutions that they have a disability?
No, a student has no obligation to inform an institution of postsecondary education that they have a disability. However, if a student is asking the college to provide academic adjustments or accommodations then they must identify themselves as having a disability and follow the College’s Policies and Procedures, regarding submitting appropriate documentation. The disclosure is always voluntary. For example, if a student who has a disability but is not requesting any accommodations, than they do not need to identify nor disclose his or her disability.
What are academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services?
Academic accommodations are defined in Section 504 regulations at 34 C.F.R. 104.44(a) as:
Such modifications to the academic requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating, on the basis of disability against a qualified … applicant or student (with a disability). Academic requirements that the recipient can demonstrate are essential to the instruction being pursued by such student or to any directly related licensing requirement will not be regarded as discriminatory within the meaning of this section. Modifications may include changes in the length of time permitted for the completion of degree requirements, substitution of specific courses required for the completion of degree requirements, and adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted.
Academic adjustments or accommodations may also may include such things as extended time on tests and the provision of auxiliary aids and services. They might include things like note takers, recording devices, readers, sign language interpreters, or assistive technology like screen readers to ensure the participation of students with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills to the college’s programs and services.
Institutions are not required to provide personal devices and services such as attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other services such as special tutoring. In some situations other agencies may provide some of these supports to assist students attending the College.
My child has an IEP/504 Plan. Is this good enough for college?
At times the IEP and/or 504 Plan will suffice for college. However, those were developed to address your child’s needs in K-12. At times, the documentation is sufficient but depending on when the last evaluation was completed and the thoroughness of the testing, it may not be sufficient. An IEP includes so many things that are not considered reasonable at the College level (i.e. special classes, in-class support, out of district placements, waivers of requirements, reduced homework expectations). The College arena is really very different than the high school one and therefore often requires different information. The College reserves the right to request additional information.
What should my child do first to self-disclose and request accommodations?
Students are advised to read the College’s Policies and Procedures and make an appointment in the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources to discuss their needs and services. For the first appointment students who have been classified by a Child Study Team are encouraged to bring the latest copy of their Psychological Evaluation, Education Evaluation and IEP (12th grade Individualized Education Plan). Students may need to request a copy of these records directly from their Child Study Team. Students are advised to make a copy for their files as well as one to submit to the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources. The College will not make copies of documentation. Please come to the appointment with a copy to submit to the office if you are requesting accommodations. If the student has not been classified they are encouraged to bring any relevant documentation that they have access to.