How Do I Find The Right
School For Me?
If you have a disability, choosing a college means thinking
about a lot more than just academic facilities and social
services. New Mobility magazine in 1998 published an
article on Disability
Friendly Colleges. Although they couldn't rate every
university in the country, they tried to provide you
with a baseline to start from. The schools chosen, may
not be ideal for you, but they will show you what to
look for to meet your individual needs.
Students with Disabilities
Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights
and Responsibilities
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department
of Education is providing the information in this pamphlet
to explain the rights and responsibilities of students
with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary
schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations
of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments,
including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure that
the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
To order a free copy or up to ten free copies write:
ED PUBS
Education Publications Center
US Department of Education
PO Box 1398
Jessup, MD 20794-1398
You may fax your order to 301-470-1244; send an e-mail
request to edpubs@inet.ed.gov
or call toll-free 1-877-433-7827
Study and Work Abroad for All www.independentliving.org/studyworkabroad/
In addition to information about traineeships and volunteer
positions this free online database lists universities
offering services for disabled students. Presently over
1,100 universities in 36 countries are covered. The
database is in English, free of charge and open to anyone.
What Kind Of Resources
Are Available To Help Pay For College?
College
Funding Strategies for Students with Disabilities
Postsecondary education is costly but there is funding
out there, you just need to find it. Start by researching
the following programs:
Scholarships For Students
With Disabilities:
On this page, you'll find information about Scholarships
and Fellowships for students with disabilities.
Be sure to browse the rest of the site also, since some
of the more general listings and scholarship databases
may contain information relevant to students with disabilities.
Students with Disabilities and Access
to Community College: Continuing Issues and New Directions
This information typically focuses on the differences
between high school and community college, such as differences
in legislative protections and various ways to access
auxiliary aids and services. Yet many students, family
members, and educators remain uninformed about the questions
they should be asking about the transition from high
school to community college programs; the policies that
determine admittance to, and continued enrollment in,
community college programs; and the strategies and resources
that may impact successful outcomes. Guiding
Questions
Testing Services for
Students with Disabilities
According to their web site, "ACT is committed
to serving students with disabilities by providing reasonable
accommodations appropriate to the student's disability.
ACT has established policies regarding documentation
of an applicant's disability and the process for requesting
accommodations. For details, see ACT Policy for Documentation
to Support Requests for Testing Accommodations on the
ACT Assessment.
Effective with ACT Assessment score reports issued
after September, 2003, ACT no longer flags scores achieved
with extended time as "special." To learn
more about ACT's implementation of this decision, see
ACT's Decision to Stop Flagging ACT Assessment Scores
Achieved with Nonstandard Time." For additional
information, visit: http://www.act.org/aap/disab/index.html
Vocational Rehabilitation
Programs, What About Them?
A Non-Collegiate Postsecondary Education Option. Voc
Rehab is a state-supported division of services that
assists individuals with disabilities who are pursuing
meaningful careers. Voc Rehab assists those individuals
to secure gainful employment proportionate with their
abilities and capabilities through local job searches
and awareness of self-employment and telecommuting opportunities.
Click
here to find your local Voc Rehab
Office.
Assistive Technology
Under the Vocational Rehabilitation System
The federal-state Voc Rehab system is the major third-party
source of assistive technology devices and services
for persons with disabilities seeking employment. Voc
Rehab administrators and counselors, advocates, policymakers
and individuals with disabilities seeking or receiving
Voc Rehab services can all benefit from the fullest
possible understanding of the key provisions of the
law (the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;
codified at 29 USC Section 701 et seq.). Click
here for more information.
The New Frontier - Think College
Youth with intellectual disabilities have not
had many chances to go to college. This is changing
as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities
for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary
education. This web site will provide information and
links to anyone interested in finding out more about
the possibilities.
The "Think College" site is divided into
sections for students, family members, and professionals
and features the following:
- Searchable database of postsecondary education programs
that support youth with intellectual disabilities
- Designed to allow individuals to submit information
about additional postsecondary education programs.
- Discussion board designed by students -- for students
who are interested in sharing college experiences.
"Choice for Everyone" Listserv, hosted by
the Institute on Disability, at the University of
New Hampshire. Membership includes family members
and a wide range of professionals.
- Resource section that contains web-based resources
with links to other sites and a bibliography listing
related publications. Individuals will be able to
submit suggestions for additional links and publications.
If you would like more information on this Web site,
visit: http://www.thinkcollege.net/
Bellevue Community
College Launches the Nation's First Higher Education
Degree Program for Students with Developmental Disabilities
Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, WA now
offers a 90-credit Associate in Essential Studies degree
through which high-functioning individuals with learning,
cognitive, and intellectual disabilities can demonstrate
mastery of an established body of knowledge and gain
the skills for lifetime success. The degree program,
called Venture, includes 52 separate courses in academics,
social and life skills, and workforce development. To
learn more about this program, go to: http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/venture/
Going Abroad in Your
Own Backyard
Do you have a disability? Have you always wanted
to have an experience abroad, but never left home before?
Maybe your academic goals are a top priority, or perhaps
you don’t have the time or financial resources
to travel abroad right now. Well, fear not! There are
a multitude of ways to “go international”
without crossing borders. Click
here for are a few ideas to give you a taste of
the opportunities available to you in your own backyard.
Provided by: The George Washington Health Resource
Center
Lessons Learned:
Taking Charge Of Special Needs: Recent College
Grad Shares Wisdom Of Experience www.specialednews.com/transition/transnews/allenassistants071600.html
Published on: Special Education News-7/00
