Here are some considerations as students transition to UConn:
- Students have new freedoms and new responsibilities and must make decisions on their own.
- Students must manage their own time and arrange their own schedules.
- Students must seek out assistance and campus resources.
- Students must develop strategies and learn how to advocate for themselves.
- Accommodations provided in high school may not necessarily be appropriate at the postsecondary level.
At postsecondary institutions students have the responsibility to:
- Self-identify or disclose their disability to the designated office for disability services.
- Provide documentation from an appropriate professional source that verifies the nature of the disability, functional limitations, and the need for specific accommodations.
- Act as independent adults and use appropriate self-advocacy skills.
- Arrange for and obtain their own personal assistants, tutoring, and individually designed assistive technologies.
Postsecondary institutions are not required to:
- Reduce or waive any of the essential requirements of a course or program.
- Conduct testing and assessment of learning, psychological or medical disabilities.
- Provide personal assistants.
- Provide personal or private tutoring.
- Prepare Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
The Difference Between High School & College
The Difference Between High School & College
There are many differences between high school and college, including laws pertaining to students with disabilities, student responsibilities (social, academic, personal), and adjustment to a new environment.| High School | Postsecondary Institutions |
|---|---|
|
|
| Covers ages 3-21 or until regular high school diploma requirements are met | Covers students with disabilities regardless of age; schools may not discriminate in recruitment, admission, or during enrollment, solely on the basis of a disability |
| Schools are required to identify students with disabilities through free assessment and the individualized education program (IEP) process | Students are required to submit documentation establishing their disability and need for accommodations. Services are only provided once a student self-identifies and provides appropriate documentation. Postsecondary institutions are not required to evaluate or test students |
| Students receive special education and related services to address needs based on an identified disability | Formal special education services are not available |
| Services include individually designed instruction, modifications, and accommodations based on the IEP | Reasonable accommodations may be made to provide equal access and participation |
| Progress toward IEP goals is monitored and communicated to the parents and/or student | Students are required to monitor their own progress and communicate their needs to appropriate personnel |
Adapted from Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education and Training, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, September 2003
Keys to Success in College
- Going to College This new website contains information about living college life with a disability. It is designed for high school students. The site provides video clips, activities, and resources that can help them get a head start in planning for college. Video interviews with college students with disabilities offer a way to hear firsthand from students with disabilities who have been successful. Modules include activities that will help students explore more about themselves, learn what to expect from college, and equip them with important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college.
- Assessing and Improving Study Skills and Strategies
- Self-Advocacy for College Students This article explains what self-advocacy is and how to improve your self-advocacy skills.
- Tips for College Bound High School Students with Diagnosed Learning Disabilities
Web Resources
- Student Guides to the Individual Education Plan (IEP) This resource explains the IEP process and what you should do to plan for your own IEP meetings.
- Missouri Association on Higher Education and Disability (MOAHEAD)
- Transition Guidebook The Missouri AHEAD College Guidebook was written for students who are interested in attending a postsecondary institution. The guidebook is broken into different sections, each with a different topic related to transition.
- National Center on Secondary Education and Transition The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) coordinates national resources, offers technical assistance, and disseminates information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures.
- NCCSD Clearinghouse and Resource Library The NCCSD Clearinghouse and Resource Library provides information for students with disabilities transitioning to college in their Get Ready for Fall! Guide.
- Tech preparation: New challenges and opportunities for college-bound teens with LD and/or ADHD This article provides detailed information on the challenges and opportunities faced by students with LD and/or ADHD. The focus of the article is to discuss the use of technology in today’s colleges. The article addresses the essential technology skills college students must have.
- Questions to help teens assess their tech readiness for college This worksheet helps to evaluate a student’s current technical skills, identify skills the students wants to learn and it allows the student to learn about the technology skill requirements at colleges they are considering.