Transitioning From High School to College With Disabilities

Transitioning from high school to college is difficult for anybody, but when you add on things like accommodations and disability resources, it is enough to make your head spin. However, it is not impossible. I am now heading into my final year of a bachelor's degree at Indiana University. In addition, I am also on the Autism Spectrum. Transitioning from high school to college was difficult, but I did it, and you can too. In this article, I am going to go through some ideas and processes that you can use to make your transition from high school to college as quick and easy as possible.

First, let's get some common misconceptions out of the way:

Misconception 1: There Are No Accommodations In College.

Reality: There most certainly are! Colleges, just like K-12 schools want you to succeed. If you are a person that needs some additional accommodations, colleges are more than willing to provide those. (In fact, they are legally required to under the American Disabilities Act, or "ADA" for short.) However, things are a bit different than they were in high school, which leads us to our misconception number two.

Misconception 2: IEP's Work In College.

Reality: When you were in K-12, you may have had something called an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), this was the document that listed the accommodations you needed and were to receive. While this was recognized in K-12, it is not enough in college. To get accommodations in college, it is not enough to give your professors your IEP. You will need to get in contact with your college's disability coordinator and discuss accommodations with them. If you have an IEP, you should show them, as it can serve as a good guidepost to what accommodations you could receive in college. With the IEP in mind, you and the disability coordinator can decide what kind of accommodations you will need to be successful in college.

Ideas For Moving Forward:

Now that we have some misconceptions about college and accommodations out of the way we can discuss some of the other difficult areas of transitioning to a college environment. One of the big ones is self-advocating. In college, you have to be able to advocate for yourself. The best way to do this is to know your disability, know your needs, and be able to communicate this knowledge effectively. By doing those three things you are well on your way to successfully advocating for yourself. If you are still in high school, one way you can prepare to do this in college is to involve yourself in your IEP process by attending your meetings and voicing your own needs and concerns. 

College can be overwhelming at first. You don't know anyone, you don't know where anything is, and everyone else seems to already have it all figured out. (Though it may appear this way, people around you are usually just as confused on their first few days!) The secret formula for success here is simple: ask for help. Now I understand this can be difficult, but the faculty and your peers will be more than happy to help point you in the right direction. They were in your position once too, you know!

Finally, let’s go through a step-by-step guide to help you get the disability accommodations that you need.

1. Before you contact the disability coordinator for your school, you should think about and consider what type of accommodation you need to be successful in college.

2. Contact the disability coordinator and introduce yourself and let them know that you would like to seek accommodations for your disability. You should also ask them if they need any paperwork or documentation to help you get services.

   1. Here is an example of what IUC’s disability coordinator and Adaptive Education Services page looks like.

3. Meet with the disability coordinator and turn in any needed paperwork/ documentation. Here is where you will discuss the kinds of accommodations that you think you need to be successful. It is important to be open and honest here, they are here to help you succeed. So don’t be afraid to mention something if you think it would help you.

4. Once you get your accommodations, it is good practice to let your professors know early in the semester so they can accommodate you. They cannot help you if they don’t know your needs.

5. You’re done! At this point, you should be good to attend college and give it your best shot to succeed. However, if a new need does arise, remember that the school is there to help you. Don’t be afraid to get in contact with your disability coordinator again if you feel your needs have changed.

In summary, transitioning to college can be a daunting task, but it can be made easier by going into it with the right information and a good state of mind. It is my hope, that by following some of the information in this article I will have made this journey easier for you. College is an amazing experience and you have more than enough in you to be able to succeed and thrive in the collegiate environment.

Here in Columbus, Indiana; there are several great college options for people who need accommodations. These are smaller colleges. If you are a student who is going to need accommodations a smaller college might be a better option than a large college because the teacher will be able to spend more time helping you specifically with what you need to succeed.

Ivy Tech is a great option for people seeking two-year degrees or professional certificates. They are very laid back and adaptive to student needs. Their page for disability services can be found here.

Purdue University–Columbus is a great option if you are looking to pursue a career in engineering or another technical field, or if you are looking to start college locally and then transfer to finish. Their page for disability services can be found here.

Indiana University–Columbus is a great option if you are looking for a more traditional degree like a bachelor’s. IU’s nursing program is very strong as well. I can say from experience that IUC is very flexible when it comes to student needs and accommodations.  Their page for disability services can be found here.

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By: David Walby  

David Walby is a local student attending Indiana University–Columbus for a B.A. in English. He is also a published writer, artist, and all-around creative who always seeks to better himself–and others–whenever possible.