Yesterday Carol Miller (TriCounty Technical College) and Dr. Arlene Stewart (Clemson University) presented a workshop at Hamilton Career Center focusing on how to successfully transition students with disabilities to college life. Both stressed the importance of teaching self-advocacy skills in the K-12 setting and explained that disability services can vary significantly from one campus to another. One of the main differences between high school and college pointed out by Ms. Miller is that students are responsible for the management of their accommodations. Students arrange appointments with the Office of Disability Services...not parents. Furthermore, it is the student's responsibility to take Faculty Notification Forms to instructors and to initiate communication with faculty if there are problems. Accommodations must be requested by the student and once in place they must be requested for every test, in every class, at least a week in advance. Dr. Stewart shared that the three most important steps for a successful transition include educational planning, student participation in decision-making, and the development of self-advocacy skills. At Clemson University, typical in-class services for students with documented disabilities include extended time, low distraction space for testing, note takers/recording devices for lectures, use of a calculator/computer, and spelling/grammar consideration.
Another point that was made very clear is that just because an accommodation had been granted in high school, it may/may not be appropriate in college.
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