College and College Programs for Individuals with Disabilities

 

College is an exciting and challenging time for students, and for families.   These can be especially true when the student has a diagnosed or undiagnosed disability.

There are times when a student’s disability first becomes disabling when they are in college. They may have always showed some difficulties, but never to the point where they needed formal supports, such as through a 504 Plan or through an IEP.

There are other times when a student has had those supports for a short or long time, but they are ready to go off to college and attempt to succeed.

There are also individuals who have more severe disabilities are maybe going to college to experience college life but with no real goal of getting a degree.

Other individuals maybe going to a college setting to learn very specific skills to get a job and maybe on a more specific technical training path.

There are, of course, other paths as well.

What can make this more challenging is that if a student had an IEP in High School, they have now gone over the cliff, and all of the money that was spent on them through their IEP is now gone. That does not mean that there are no supports available for these student, there are, but they do not have the richness of completeness that they may have received while in High School.

So no matter, which path, there are ways to get help for the student. Dr. DeMarle sees a number of college students every year. Some of those may have been seen at DeMarle INC in the past, and some maybe brand new.  Either way, Dr. DeMarle can help assess their needs and help lay out a plan.

There is a lot of information on this webpage, be sure to search in the Categories to find those articles and resources.

What do when you adult children have significant disabilities

A Mother Makes the Case for Conservatorship – First Person

 

Her son was “losing his mind.” But how do you help someone who doesn’t believe he is mentally ill?

Click this link to read and/or listen to the NY Times Story.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/opinion/mental-health-conservatorship.html

13 surprising tips for applying to college

2/3/19Even though your brain is crammed with college admissions info, somehow the crazy process of applying to college still feels like a scavenger hunt. That’s where this list comes in. Wisdom from those who’ve already tread this path — plus some lesser-known facts — may change your and your child’s approach to this process… and it just might set your mind at ease.

Click this link to read the article

Apps to Support Successful Transition to College for Students with ASD

1/5/19From “Teaching Exceptional Children” Volume 51 Issue 2 “As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to increase (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014), so too does the rate of high school students with ASD enrolling in college after graduation (Brown & DiGaldo, 2011; Sanford et al., 2011). Although accommodations can be provided to these students through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), only 20% of students with disabilities, including ASD, graduate from college (Grogan, 2015), in contrast to 59% of students without disclosed disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, 2017). Many factors contribute to the disappointing graduation rate of students with disabilities, including those related to five key domains known to influence the success of college students with ASD: academics (Sayman, 2015; Taylor & Colvin, 2013), social interactions (Grogan, 2015; McKeon, Alpern, & Zager, 2013), living outside the family home (Cullen, 2015; Dente & Coles, 2012), executive functioning (Cai & Richdale, 2016; Sayman, 2015), and mental health (Pugliese & White, 2014; Taylor & Colvin, 2013). To prepare high school students with ASD for college, educators can use assistive technology, including specific software applications (apps), in tandem with evidence-based teaching practices to support skill development and student success (Fletcher-Watson, McConnell, Manola, & McConachie, 2014).”

Click this link to read the article

NCLD Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships

10/21/18High school seniors who are part of the class of 2019 and have a documented learning disability or ADHD are welcome to apply for the Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas scholarships.

Click this link to apply

College Board widens the net for scholarships

10/21/18Aamer Madhani, reporter USA Today, reports that “The College Board, the nonprofit group that administers the SAT and Advanced Placement tests, launched a $25 million scholarship program intended to help students at the bottom of the class as much it does the valedictorians. College Board President David Coleman told USA TODAY the College Board Opportunity Scholarship has no minimum grade-point average or SAT score requirement. Instead, students become eligible for scholarships by working their way through a checklist of essential steps in the college application process – such as building a list of schools they’re interested in attending, practicing for the SAT, improving their scores and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.”

Click this link to read the article

Education Department updates College affordability and transparency lists

7/11/14As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to keep college within reach for all Americans and encourage institutions to make the costs of college more transparent, the U.S. Department of Education today updated college costs lists on its College Affordability and Transparency Center.

Click this link to go to the site

Federal Student Aid

1/5/14A one-stop website for students and their families to assist the transition to life beyong high school by providing information and resources on planning and paying for postsecondary education, career planning, campus life, and online study assistance.

Click this link to go to the site

SAT Preparation Resource

5/17/13Taking the PSAT, SAT, or ACT is one of the trials that high school students must go through in the process of applying for college. Many students make the mistake of trying to cram all that studying into a few hours before the test. It works best if the students starts early.The Veritas Prep Site presents useful SAT prep material and guidance.

Click this link to go to the site

College Scholarship Search Tool

9/20/12Search more than 7,000 scholarships, fellowships, loans and other types of student financial aid. You can also filter your search results to find scholarships specifically for students with disabilities. For more information about this tool read the

 frequently asked questions

Click this link to go to the Search Tool

Accommodations on the College Board Testing: PSAT, SAT

8/30/12A helpful guide to the process of getting accommodations from the college board on the PSAT and SAT.

Click this link to read the article

Ways to Attend College for Free

8/8/12

“Everyone deserves a college education, but with the escalating cost of tuition, few can easily afford the price. These days, public school students pay more than $32,000 for a 4-year degree, according to the College Board. For private school students that figure more than triples to $114,000, not including room, board or books.”

Click this link to read the article

Navigating College with Autism

Handbook from The Autistic Self Advocacy Network written by adults and youth with autism for current and future college students with autism. Discusses disability and special education laws that apply to students from grades K-12 and how students in college must advocate for themselves. Also includes information on independent living, health and safety, and social issues.

New Resource: Handbook on Autistic Self Advocacy in college 

– 11/14/11

Colleges for students with ADHD and LD

1/15/10This New York Times article provide a nice overview of College program specifically designed for students with ADHD and Learning Disabilities. It points out the need to ensure students are receiving the right services in School so they are better prepared to be successful when they go to college.

Click this link to read the article 5/18/24

 What happens to a Section 504 plan or IEP in college? 8/18/24

 

Upromise

Have major companies help pay for your child’s college or raise money for your school for free.

Upromise.com

is a highly recommended site because by becoming a member of the site, large corporations will give you money to put into your child’s college savings account at no cost to you.  Members register their child’s 529 college savings plan and their credit cards, Wegmans card, CVS card, and/or Tops Cards.  When you purchase specific items in the store, for example Land O’Lakes butter. Land O’Lakes puts a couple of pennies in your Upromise Account. Similarly when you shop on line, many merchants will give you donate 1 to 10% of your purchase into your account, at no additional charge. When you have over $50 in your Upromise account they will then transfer the money to your child’s college saving account.