Session 905: Transition to Community College

Gaeir Dietrich, Director, or the High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges

 Community Colleges

113 (or so) Community Colleges in California

Two-year degrees (AA/AS)

Eventually a few vocational BA degrees

Transfer to four-year colleges

Vocational programs

Enrichment

 Why Community College?

Still in the community

Time to mature

Remedial / basic skills classes provided

Compared to four-year schools

Generally more services

More supportive environment

Slower pace

Instructors more available

Classes often smaller

 Disabled Services

Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS or DSS)

Registration help

Counselors

Disability specialists

Advocacy

Alternate media specialists

High tech centers (AT computer labs)

 High Tech Centers (AT Labs)

Instruction in assistive technology

JAWS/NVDA

ZoomText

Kurzweil 1000/Kurzweil 3000

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Mobile technology

Technology available

Internet access

CCTV

Large monitors

 Alternate Media

E-text

Braille

Large print

MP3

Sometimes DAISY / mobile solutions

It’s good to be able to use as many of them as you can!

 Other Services

Test proctoring

Assistance in hiring readers

Notetakers / notetaking strategies

Tutors

Learning assistance

On-campus transportation

Adaptive PE

 The Services Are There, BUT

How do students access them?

You must take the initiative!

Assistance is no longer automatic—you must ask

First steps

Intake session with a counselor

Provide documentation

 DSPS Counselors

Counselor’s main focus is campus-related issues

They will vary in how well informed they are about VI students’ needs

Counselors can help with academic information, but they won’t know what works best for you!

 Meeting with a Counselor

Make an appointment early

A year ahead of when you plan to attend

Be prepared to…

Talk about goals

Academic goals

Career goals

Life goals

Listen to suggestions

Sign forms as an adult (if you are 18)

 Ask About

Financial aid

Transportation

Orientation and mobility

Requesting alternate media

Availability of assistive technology

What other services are available

 Find Out How the Campus Can Help

Not all campuses are the same!

Not all disability service offices are the same.

You need to ask about services and decide if that campus will work for you.

 What Are My Rights

Campuses must provide accommodations; however, some do it better than others!

Check the AHEAD website for more information:

 Where did my VI teacher go?

Very few trained VI specialists at the college level

O&M will generally be through the former school district or Dept of Rehab

This may be the first time there is a blind student on campus

Rare that anyone “speaks your language”

 Becoming an Adult

Self-advocacy

Ask questions.

Talk to teachers.

Talk to other students.

Self-responsibility

Staff will assist, not prompt.

Teach others to help you

Sighted guide

Directions

 FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

At 18, or upon entering college, rights formerly given to parents transfer to student

Affects…

Personal information, education records, conversations with faculty and counselors

 What FERPA Means

If you want your parents to be able to ask for information about you, YOU must sign a form allowing campus to release that information

It is your choice!

But remember, if you suddenly need parents to have information, we cannot give it without the release form

 Survival Tips

Dept. of Rehab

Check with DOR, many offices now accepting referrals at age 14

“Blindness skills”

O&M field trip to campus

Keyboarding skills

Computer skills

 Think about; Talk about

Classroom strategies

How do you take notes?

How do you get information off the board?

Study strategies

What book formats work best?

Can you use tactile graphics?

Utilizing technology

Being able to use multiple tools is a plus!

Using free tools in a pinch is a survival plus!

 Picking Your Classes

Choose a balanced schedule and pace yourself!

If math and science are hard for you, take one per term

Balance harder classes with ones easier for you

Choose easier classes the first term

A lot is new, ease into the experience!

 Readers Are Not Found on Trees

Students will need to be involved in hiring readers.

Devise a reading test.

Learn to be a manager.

Make expectations clear.

Be aware of potential problems. Other students have finals, too!

You are now a supervisor and personnel manager.

 Books Aren’t Found on Trees, Either!

College students buy their books

Work with Dept of Rehab

Be prepared for a much higher volume of reading

Have strategies: When can you use audio? When do you need braille or large print? Can you navigate with DAISY?

Don’t be shy to request what you need

Multiple formats are okay.

 There Is No Book Fairy

Learn to ask questions

Talk to the instructor

Talk to the bookstore

Request alternate formats early from DSS

Work with the service providers

Math, science, and music will take longer

The organized, responsible student will receive the best services.

 Must Haves

Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) membership

Please note: CCC grant has provided institutional membership to all CCC colleges

Personal memberships still good to have—check with Dept of Rehab for funding

Bookshare membership

Free to all students!

 Finding Accessible Textbooks

Learning Ally

Bookshare

Sometimes Amazon has recorded books

Audible.com for novels

Access Text Network’s Accessible Textbook Finder

 Other Book Options

Both Bookshare and Learning Ally will create alternate formats

Need individual membership

Purchase the book and send for processing.

Caveat: Can take months to produce

 Reading Success in College

Learn to use tools that facilitate reading

Assistive technology, mobile devices

Different formats for different subjects

Learn to advocate for yourself

Know what works

Know what doesn’t work

Work with service providers, and also speak up!

 Fit College to You!

Know yourself and your disability.

Be able to talk about yourself and your needs!

Try out different technologies.

Read for fun to see what works best.

Learn what works well for your individual learning style—and be able to talk about it.

 Life beyond High School

Watch for campus outreach programs

Attend events with other students, O&M instructor, family

Visit the disabled services offices

Parents and VI teachers…Help with the transition so that students can soar free on their own!

 Feel Free to Contact Us!

Gaeir (rhymes with “fire”) Dietrich, HTCTU Director

408-996-6047