College Resources for Students with Disabilities
College
Transitioning from high school to college includes two phases.
- Preparing for college, including testing, securing financial aid, and choosing your postsecondary school.
- Succeeding in college, which requires numerous self-management skills.
The following resources can help you along your way.
Preparing for College
The transition from high school to college is a big step for everyone. Students with disabilities have even more things to think about than their nondisabled peers. Preparing for your postsecondary education should begin while you are in high school.
- A guide that provides clear info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree, as well as offer a fresh analysis of which colleges are doing the most to make high-quality education affordable.
- Learn about federal and state aid, scholarships, and award opportunities.
- A handbook for students with disabilities.
- Facts and figures that students should weigh in making decisions about college.
- Students with disabilities and staff share advice for success in college.
- Create a personalized college plan via a step-by-step process designed to help students navigate the college application process.
- Search community colleges, universities, vocational schools, and technical training schools by location, population, fees, and degrees offered.
- Index of more than 2,000 career schools, traditional colleges, career colleges, graduate schools, and other educational institutions.
- A Model for Supporting the Transition of High School Students with Disabilities into STEM-Related Postsecondary Education
- Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance ServicesA Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood.
- Research postsecondary schools in the U.S., find student and faculty data, degrees, and other demographic information.
- MyCollegeOptionsA free college planning service designed to assist high school students in exploring a wide range of postsecondary opportunities, with special emphasis on the college search process.
- All the info and tools you need to find, get in, and pay for school.
- Read about accommodation strategies, consider different types of degrees and schools, and consider funding options.
- Get information from the U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights for students on your rights and responsibilities.
- A guide for helping students make a successful transition from high school to college or university.
Succeeding in College
Congratulations! You have decided to go to college—excellent decision. A college education can increase your opportunities for success. However, you will find the college learning environment different from that of high school. College is less structured and will require you to use more self-monitoring skills than you needed in high school. There will be no teachers or parents making decisions for you. Be prepared to face an increased level of academic competition and to have less contact with your professors. You will be the person responsible for your actions, your learning, your successes and your failures as a college student.
- This resource features seven tips to help you stay successful once you are in an online course.
- An infographic that showcases skills for online students, the steps to develop those skills, and useful tools.
- A guide that provides clear info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree, as well as offer a fresh analysis of which colleges are doing the most to make high-quality education affordable.
- Learn tips to increase your success in school.
- Learn methods for creating a study environment for online learning that minimizes distractions and puts you in the mindset to concentrate.
- Students with disabilities and practitioners share tips for making successful transitions from two- or four-year postsecondary institutions.
- National Organizations Working on Disability and Higher EducationLearn about a variety of national organizations working with people with disabilities and higher education.
- A resource that provides tools for a variety of disability types, as well as legal knowledge, scholarship information, and other important college needs.
- Being a graduate student is challenging for all students, but students with disabilities may face unique challenges. The PhDisabled website provides a space for PhD students with disabilities to share their experiences.
- A guide for college students with disabilities that answers frequently asked questions and offers resources.
- Get real world advice from graduate students who have been there. Learn how to be successful, develop supportive relationships, obtain accommodations, and more.
- Successful youth and adults with disabilities share how they live successful, self-determined lives.
- Two high school students with disabilities share how they succeed in school and otherwise live self-determined lives.
- Five teens with disabilities share how they live self-determined, fulfilling lives.
- A resource for connecting college students with disabilities in access to higher education and employment issues.
- An explanation of how online courses differ from on-campus courses and strategies to succeed.
- Learn how you can develop a growth mindset that will be instrumental to your mental health and academic success.