College+&+Transition

Special service delivery does not end when a student graduates from high school; however, some of the rules and regulations do. Once students leave the realm of public education, they are no longer covered by IDEIA. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, access to education is no longer a right, personal services are no longer required (in most cases), and students must advocate for themselves in order to receive accommodations under Section 504 of the ADA.

Transitioning from high school to college or the workforce can be difficult for students as well as parents.

Wrightslaw
[|Wrightslaw], a special education law & advocacy website run by an attorney and psychotherapist husband-and-wife team, offers many resources for parents of students ready to transition out of secondary education. Below are just a few of many important pages on their site.

Each of the following pages has information on the listed topic, as well as links to further resources.


 * [|Information] on selecting appropriate college programs, legal rights & responsibilities of the student, and obtaining financial aid
 * Start here for some general information on [|transitioning] out of secondary education
 * Familiarize yourself with Information on [|accommodations for college students]
 * [|Self-advocacy] is a skill all students must master as they enter higher education and the workforce

Additionally, see this excellent handout from Wrightslaw with links to several external sources on rights & responsibilities, planning for college, and tips for success for students with learning disabilities:



Other Planning Resources

 * List of [|colleges & universities] with programs geared toward students with learning disabilities
 * Repository of [|classroom resources] for preparing students for transition
 * [|ThinkCollege] is a database of postsecondary programs and general information for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities