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Off to College with Special Needs
Helping Your Child Make the Transition By Sue Marquette Poremba
(Wiley, 2007), says parents, students, and school officials need to come up with a transition plan while the student is still in high school. "The transition plan can advocate for the long-term goals of the teenager," he says.
This team can also act as a support system for the teen as he goes from high school to college, says Rick Lavoie, special education expert. Each member of the team should have a specific talent, skill or knowledge and be willing to be available to the student. In turn, the student shouldn't hesitate to use the talent around him and ask for help.
When it comes time to schedule the SAT or ACT, "Make sure to take the un-timed test," Mosely says."This will take the pressure off and make the test-taking experience more comfortable."
High school is the time for the student to become aware of their learning style and to begin adapting it to their studies. However, parents and other members of the transition team should be watching closely to make sure that the teen is still taking advantage of appropriate help when needed. Teens aren't usually forthcoming when it comes to asking for assistance.
"Disability still involves stigma," says Jack Trammel, a researcher at Randolph-Macon College. "Students with disabilities need to become better 'information managers' in college."
"Honesty is a key element in helping us to help students," says Christine Noya, associate dean for academic support services at Villa Julie College. "Documentation should be provided before classes begin, not in the middle of the semester or the week before final exams. Some accommodations take time. For example, it takes time in most colleges to find a signer for students with hearing losses, or a notetaker for five classes on three different days can be difficult to procure."