Transitioning to Postsecondary Education: Changes and Challenges
By Adult Topics Committee
Throughout the K-12 education of a student with learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), s/he is under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federal law with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which ceases to exist as soon as the student exits high school. However, if a student with LD and/or ADHD does not qualify for an IEP, a 504 Plan (under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) may be initiated in the K-12 system. A 504 Plan follows the person throughout his/her life (i.e., postsecondary and work). See Understood website for additional information at Transitioning to a postsecondary institution includes a change in the federal law from IDEA to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), which brings a new set of rules of which students with disabilities (SWD) and their parents are often not equipped with knowledge. First,the classroom accommodations,such as eliminating several answers on multiple choice questions or modifying the course, may not follow the student to postsecondary education while at the postsecondary level an Academic Program (e.g., Nursing, Law Enforcement, Special Education) may not be altered because postsecondary institutions are not required to lower academic standards to accommodate a SWD. For information about this, you may visit the Office of Civil Rights website at Another extremely important difference regards self-advocacy.
During K-12 education, the school and its staff are charged with child find and providing accommodations. However, transitioning to postsecondary education, the student must now self-advocate, which is often a new skill for the SWD. This specific skill, self-advocacy, would be a good goal to put into a Transition Plan. Role-playing various scenarios such as speaking with a difficult professor, asserting oneself with a roommate, or advocating for accommodations with the institution’s Disability Service Office would all be good scenarios to practice. Part of being able to self-advocate to the Disability Services Office includes the ability to express strengths and weaknesses, as well as the accommodations or strategies that have been successfully utilized in the past and what did not work. Utilizing “I” statements, communicating only the facts, and noticing nonverbal communication will all assist the SWD with effectively and appropriately express his/her needs. This ability to self-advocate will benefit the SWD when negotiating accommodations at the postsecondary institution. Sometimes SWD acquire a stigma of going to the Resource Room at high school because they mayfeel ridiculed and made fun of, which can cause them to choose not to self-advocate and request accommodations at the postsecondary institution. This stigma does not carry forward to postsecondary education because many nondisabled peers do not realize why students are not in class taking an exam (e.g., may have chosen to not come to class that day). Therefore, the SWD should feel more comfortable advocating for and utilizingaccommodations at the postsecondary institution in order to demonstrate to their fullest extent possible the learned material.
While every postsecondary institution that receives federal funding is required to have an Office of Disability Services, many institutions have additional support for SWD. These services vary in range in terms of the provided services and the cost. Some institutions’ Office of Disability Services may provide more services than just writing a letter for professors with classroom accommodations such as assistive technology or testing accommodations. Additionalservices may be provided through the federal government’s TRIO grants, which support many 2 and 4-year colleges throughout the United States as Student Support Services (SSS) Programs. The SSS Programs focus on tutoring, retention, good academic standing, and graduating. The SSS Programs are free for SWD due to being funded through the federal government; see the link to check if the colleges you are looking at house a SSSProgram However, these Programs have a limited number of spacesand a separate application and selection process than the institution; therefore, it is recommended to apply early.
In addition, intensive fee-based programs are available for SWD and often have limited number of students that may be served, as well as a separate application process. These fee-based services ranges in price, as well as services. Some of these services may include testing accommodations, coaching/mentoring, intensive executive function strategies, social skills instruction, and foster independent living. Some of the fee-based programs have special courses and tutoring for their participants. These programs are diverse and provide a wide range of services varying from program to program. One suggestion is to visit the various programs and shadow a current student. Then complete a pro/con sheet of each institution and program so that your SWD has a record to help them findthe “right fit.” There are many resources that can assist the SWD with this process, such as
Lastly, participation in a Summer Bridge Program, Freshman Year Orientation Program, or Learning Community can benefit SWD in a number of ways. Summer Bridge Programs usually span the gap between when the SWD exits high school and begins at the postsecondary institution. These programs allow the SWD to live on campus while they complete coursework. The Summer Bridge Programs give the SWD time to transition to the more complex and unpredictable nature of life on campus by providing examples of the variable daily schedules, how courses are selected and what the expectations are and what resources are available on campus (University of Washington). The Summer Bridge allows SWD to become acquainted with the campus and postsecondary life and procedures while the campus has less students in attendance, as well as adjusting to living in a residence hall away from home.
Freshman Year Orientation programs allow students many opportunities which include intrusive advising, creation of a social group, and assistance with orienting SWD to campus life. The students can be advised into appropriate classes and will learn how to stay on track with their degree plan. SWD can meet peers and nondisabled peers that are in the program with them, which can help prevent the feelings of isolation that can sometimes occur. These programs can be beneficial in assisting SWD who are unfamiliar with campus life and culture. The students can learn prosocial academic behavior and how the university processes work (Fowler & Boylan, 2010).
The opportunities provided through Learning Communities include increased engagement in courses and a sense of attachment and engagement with the university. Being engaged in the coursework allows a sense of commitment to the program and the community, which can allow students with opportunities to provide practical examples of their work. These opportunities can lead to more engagement in the program which makes students feel more at home and committed to the university (Tinto, 2012). SWD need to feel a sense of belonging and become engaged in campus activities in order to be more apt to be successful at the postsecondary institution. Each postsecondary institution provides various services; however, it is up to the student with LD and/or ADHD to find an institution and/or specialized Program that is the “right fit” for him/her. These intensive Programs offer additional supports that will benefit the college students with LD and/or ADHD to demonstrate their knowledge to the utmost of their ability.
Resources
CollegeWebLD.
Goldhammer, R. & Brinckerhoff, L. C. (1993). Self-advocacy for college students. LD Online
from the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Fowler, P. R. & Boylan, H. R. (2010). Increasing student success and retention: A
multidimensional approach. Journal of Developmental Education, 34 (2), pp.2-4, 6, 8-10 Retrieved from
Kravets, M., & Wax, I. F. (2016).The Princeton Review: The K&W guide to colleges for students with learning differences: 353 schools with programs or services for students with ADHD, ASD, or learning disabilities. 13th Edition. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
Student Support Services Program. U.S. Department of Education
Tinto, V. (2012).Completing college: Rethinking institutional action. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
University of Washington. Disability Resources for Students.
Understood.
504-plans.
Wrightslaw. Self-advocacy.