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?
Sign up with disabled services
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
Sign up early! At least by junior year of HS!
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