Getting There
Applying, Visiting Colleges, and Choosing a College
- College Planning for Students with Disabilities is a supplement to EducationQuest Foundation’s College Prep Handbook. It contains sections on self-advocacy, the admissions process, steps to follow after choosing a college, and legal rights and responsibilities. http://apps.educationquest.org/pdfs/CP_Disability.pdf
- The Postsecondary Education Programs Network's northeast affiliate, PEPNet-Northeast, created a guide for prospective college students, their parents, and high school guidance counselors to assist Deaf and hard of hearing students find a college right for them. http://projects.pepnet.org/collegeguide/About%20the%20Guide.html
- Report from the National Center for Special Education Research: The Secondary School Experiences and Academic Performance of Students with Hearing Impairments: http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113003/pdf/20113003.pdf
- Off to College: Tips for Students with Visual Impairments provides information on how to make the transition to college, including tips on finding the best school for you, visiting colleges' offices for students with disabilities, determining whether any accommodations will be needed, communicating with teachers about disability and getting books and other materials. http://www.pacer.org/parent/php/php-c170.pdf
- George Washington University's HEATH Resource Center provides information to help answer questions about educational and training options available to students with disabilities after high school. http://www.heath.gwu.edu/modules/awareness-of-postsecondary-options/
- Think College! College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides resources about higher education options for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. http://www.thinkcollege.net/index.php
- ADDvance provides information for Young Adults and College Students with ADD, ADHD, and learning disabilities, including this article: “Assessing College Support Services for Students with ADD and ADHD,” which details important questions to ask college disability services offices. http://www.addvance.com/help/young_adults/support_assess.html
- Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) has Best Practices Resources on Disability Documentation, including the use and purposes of documentation, elements of quality disability documentation, and recommendations for creating disability-specific documentation guidelines. http://www.ahead.org/resources/best-practices-resources
- Center for Young Women’s Health has an article entitled “Impact of Chronic Illness on College Planning,” which has important health insurance and services information and answers for all students, especially those with disabilities, should know before going to college. http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/impact.html
- College Questions for Students with Disabilities provides an excellent list of questions to ask colleges and universities while choosing a college. http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/97-college-questions-for-students-with-disabilities
- Getting Started with Your College Planning for Students with Disabilities: http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/E08EA3A2/Students-With-Disabilities/
- Starting Wright is a website that helps get students with disabilities ready now for college and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine: http://startingwright.org
Disability-Friendly Colleges
- Disability Friendly Colleges is an excellent college guide for students with physical disabilities and mobility impairments. It includes a guide to disability services at various colleges, as well as advice on preparing for college, visiting colleges, and the freshman year experience. http://www.disabilityfriendlycolleges.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=54&Itemid=78
- Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports, USA provides a list of colleges and universities that offer adaptive sports programs: http://www.wsusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=239&Itemid=461
- A list of some colleges that provide a physically disabled-friendly environment: http://www.insidecollege.com/reno/Colleges-with-a-Physically-DisabledFriendly-Environment/403/list.do
- Kaarme.com’s article, “Colleges with Learning Disability Programs” includes information about the level of disability services and programs that colleges provide for students with learning disabilities. http://kaarme.com/Learning_Disability_College_Programs
- Learn more about DePaul University’s Chronic Illness Initiative, which specifically addresses the needs of students with chronic illness and provides additional academic support. http://www.facebook.com/ciidepaul
Colleges with Disability Studies Programs
- Syracuse University’s Center of Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies has a list of academic institutions with academic programs in Disability Studies: http://disabilitystudies.syr.edu/resources/programsinds.aspx
- Student Resources list of various types of disability programs at colleges and universities: http://www.abilityinfo.com/category/student.html
Gap Year Programs and Options for Students with Disabilities
- Transition Programs and Gap Year Programs for Young Adults from Internet Special Education Resources: http://www.iser.com/young-adult-transitions.html
- Benefits of a Gap Year for Students with Learning Disabilities: http://ezinearticles.com/?Learning-Disabilities---Benefits-of-a-Gap-Year-For-Students-With-Learning-Disabilities&id=2014375
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Disability.gov provides information on financial aid, scholarships, loans, and grants: https://www.disability.gov/home/i_want_to/scholarships
- The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/disabled.phtml
- Disaboom scholarship list: A list of scholarships for people with disabilities. http://www.disaboom.com/scholarships/
- Disabled World disability scholarships list http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/education/scholarships/
- Scholarships and Awards list from the Institute on Disability and Human Development: http://www.idhd.org/scholar.html
- List of Institutions Offering Scholarships for Disabled Students: http://www.university-student.org/2011/09/institutions-offering-scholarships-for.html
- Grants for College Students with Disabilities: http://www.studentgrants.org/disability/
- American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship Program: http://aahd.us/page.php?pname=Scholarship%20Program
- Scholarships and Awards for Students with Learning Disabilities: http://www.ldrfa.org/awardprogram.php
- The Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (pursuing degrees in computer science or computer engineering): http://www.limeconnect.com/opportunities/page/google-lime-scholarship-program
- Military Personnel and Military Dependents Scholarships, including those for disabled veterans: http://www.afcea.org/education/scholarships/undergraduate/military.asp
- Incight Education awards up to 100 scholarships to students with disabilities: http://www.incighteducation.org/scholarship/
- Chair Scholars Foundation provides scholarships for students with serious physical disabilities: http://chairscholars.org/scholarships.html
Accommodations:
- Disability.gov Education Resources https://www.disability.gov/education
- This Information is from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entitled Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html
- This information is from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on institutions of higher education’s obligations to provide auxiliary aids to qualified students with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn more. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html
- This document discusses the differences between rights for people with disabilities in secondary education and those in postsecondary education. http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/504.asp
- The Legal Aid Society- Employment Law Center has put together a fact sheet about disability rights protections including reasonable accommodation guidelines for students in higher education. Targeted toward students in California, this resource provides general information about national and state-level legal rights. Learn more. http://www.las-elc.org/factsheets/disabilities-education.html
- Disability Rights California Guide to Rights of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/530901.pdf
- Disability Rights Bar Association’s Law School Admissions Access Project http://disabilityrights-law.org/
- US Office of Disability Employment Policy: The Why, When, What, and How of Disclosure in an Academic Setting After High School: http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/wwwh.htm
- Disclosing in an Academic Setting: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability. The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure
- A guide on what to look for in a Learning Disability Program: http://www.ldrfa.org/index.php?pID=27
- This website provides dyslexia accommodation assessments for various universities: http://www.dyslexia-test.com/university.html
- Advice, information, and FAQs for students with psychiatric disabilities: http://www.ahead.org/frequently-asked-questions-0
- The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Disability Rights in Housing provides a guide on what housing rights people with disabilities have http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disabilities/inhousing
Assistive Technology
- LD Online, a website on learning disabilities and ADHD provides a guide called Questions to Ask Colleges about Assistive Technology Resources: http://www.ldonline.org/article/8929/
- Disability.gov provides assistive technology resources: https://www.disability.gov/home/i_want_to/assistive_technology
- Accessible Digital Media Guidelines from the National Center for Accessible Media: http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/web_multimedia/accessible-digital-media-guide
- For students getting a cell phone before going to college, the Guide to Choosing a Cell Phone for People with Disabilities is useful: http://www.wirelessrerc.org/for-consumers/your-guide-to-choosing-a-cell-phone-page-1-of-2.html
- Guides to making the internet easier to use for people with disabilities: http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/
- The University of Washington DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center uses technology as an empowering tool to promote the success of individuals with disabilities in higher education: http://www.washington.edu/doit/
Testing Information and Accommodations
- College Board Services for Students with Disabilities tests, including PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and Advanced Placement Exams: http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/index.html
- ACT Services for Students with Disabilities: http://www.act.org/aap/disab/
- GRE Test Takers with Disabilities and Health-related needs: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/disabilities
- LSAT Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities: http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/accommodated-testing.asp
- MCAT Applying for Accommodations: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/accommodations/
College Life for Students with Disabilities:
- Learn about starting a college organization for students with disabilities: http://www.neads.ca/en/norc/campusnet/leadership_starting.php
- Navigating College: A Project of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a wonderful resource and introduction to the college experience written by Autistic college students and adults: http://www.navigatingcollege.org/
- Inside Higher Ed has an article about higher education reaching students with chronic illness: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/11/08/chronic
- A general article on how to manage the stress of chronic disease in college: http://www.webmd.com/balance/managing-chronic-disease-at-college
- DREAM – Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring is an organization initiated in the hopes of promoting a disabilities agenda for post-secondary students and allies. It aims to serve as an educational resource and source of support for individuals and student groups: http://dreamforpostsecondarystudents.weebly.com/index.html
- College Survival Guide: Tips and Resources for ADD/ADHD and LD Students: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-guide/college.html
Taking Care of Yourself & Staying Healthy
- A guide to being in charge of your health care through the Health Care Transition Guide for Young Adults: http://hctransitions.ichp.ufl.edu/pdfs/cms_wy18_lowres_09.pdf
- Tips for students on staying healthy in college: http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/articles/authored/staying-healthy-in-college
- Health insurance advice and options for college students: http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/health-insurance-options-for-college-students
Studying Abroad
- Article about tips for people with disabilities studying abroad: http://www.disaboom.com/college-for-students-with-disabilities/studying-abroad-as-a-college-student-with-a-disability
- Mobility International USA: National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange provides in depth information about going abroad as a person with a disability http://www.miusa.org/ncde/goingabroad
- NAFSA Association of International Educators provides a guide for students with disabilities studying abroad: http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/educationabroad_iesept_oct.pdf
General Information:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability provides important links and information on education for people with disabilities: http://www.hhs.gov/od/topics/education/education.html
- Abilityinfo has numerous links and resources for students with disabilities: http://www.abilityinfo.com/category/student.html
Resources for Disabled Veterans:
- The National Resource Directory provides information on education and job training opportunities for veterans: https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/education_and_training
- New Horizons Unlimited includes education resources and assistance as well as other support and opportunities for veterans with disabilities: http://www.new-horizons.org/cmtvet.html#education
Get Informed about Your Rights! New Legislation and Interest Stories:
- Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund is a wonderful organization with information about disability rights and education: http://www.dredf.org/index.shtml
- U.S. Government Accountability Office published a report in November 2011 on the need for improved federal enforcement of students’ rights to testing accommodations: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-40
- Information on University Housing and the Fair Housing Act:
- http://www.tilrc.org/assests/news/0211news/0211housing28.html
- An article from NPR entitled “Depression on the Rise in College Students” http://www.npr.org/2011/01/17/132934543/depression-on-the-rise-in-college-students
- An article from NPR about test discrimination, “Blind Would-Be Law Student Says Test Discriminates”
- http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137179261/blind-law-student-claims-discrimination-in-testing?sc=emaf
- The New York Times article “Mental Health Needs Seen Growing at Colleges” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/health/20campus.html
Latest News
- AAPD Announces New Grant Program to Expand Work Opportunities for Young Americans with Disabilities
AAPD Press Team | 09/03/2013
- White House Announces Groundbreaking Effort to Promote Equal Opportunity for Americans with Disabilities
AAPD Press Team | 08/27/2013
