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Two-Year versus Four-Year Colleges
...Two-year colleges or community colleges provide both vocational programs and academic curricula. These colleges offer associate's degrees and certificates in various occupational fields. They also offer courses that prepare individuals to continue their studies at a 4-year institution...
Admission to community college significantly differs from admission to a 4-year university or college. Community colleges typically enroll individuals who have a high school diploma or the equivalent (GED certificate) or individuals who are able to benefit from instruction at the college. Some community colleges conduct placement tests to determine if remedial courses are needed. In both 2- and 4-year-colleges, documentation is required for students with disabilities to determine eligibility for services...
Gaining Access to Supports and Services on Campus
Colleges and universities vary in the types of supports and services provided to students with disabilities. Supports most commonly requested by students include textbooks on tape, notetakers, extended time on tests, distraction-free environment for test taking, use of calculators, and permission to audiotape lectures...Students also need to explore services that are available on campus for all students — for example, counseling services, writing or math labs, and study skills or timemanagement classes offered either through a counseling center or other entities on campus. There is a full range of services on campus to assist all students in successfully meeting their academic goals, and students with disabilities should take advantage of these services along with any specialized services that they are receiving....
...Students with disabilities are not automatically entitled to disability-related services and supports but must meet eligibility requirements through the documentation of a disability...Students with disabilities must know their rights and responsibilities as these pertain to their college education. Understanding the process to obtain services and supports on campus is a critical step for determining whether a particular higher education program can meeta student's unique needs.
Questions to Ask Concerning Services and Supports
- What specific documentation does your campus require to be eligible for services?
- What types of support services are typically provided to students (i.e., learning disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, low vision)?
- Is new documentation required every year to remain eligible for services?
- Are there orientation classes available that address issues specific to students with disabilities?
- What is the process for accessing these support services?
- How are instructors notified of a student's disability?
Unfortunately, too many college students with disabilities are not aware of the supports and services available on campus. Sometimes these students believe that they will gain access to services when they really need them. This may happen after failing their first test or experiencing academic problems after mid-terms. This puts students under more stress to successfully complete a semester. It is important to realize that faculty will only institute accommodations upon receipt of a letter or notification from the college DSS office that a student with a disability presents regarding his or her eligibility to receive specific accommodations. These services are not retroactive, so the sooner students self-identify to the DSS office and become eligible for services, the greater the chance of successfully using these supports in their coursework. Knowing about the services and supports prior to applying for college can assist students in gaining access to services before academic problems occur.
Excerpt, Going to College: Expanding Opportunities for People with Disabilities (Chapter Four)© Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Baltimore, Md. Posted by permission.
