Transitioning to College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities - 3nd Edition

School personnel, parents and high school students with disabilities will all benefit from this new and expanded (6-page) laminated guide by Elizabeth Hamblet. It offers detailed suggestions of ways students with disabilities, with the help of parents and teachers/school staff, can start preparing for the transition to college as early as freshman year of high school.

Transitioning to College lists five key areas of preparedness, as identified by researchers. These include:

• Understanding laws that govern how colleges address students with disabilities;
• Understanding the differences between college and high school environments;
• Being aware of college disability services and how to access them;
• Having proper academic preparation for the demands of college work;
• Having the knowledge and self-confidence to advocate for oneself.

It also highlights critical elements of three federal laws, in which students with disabilities, as well as their families and educators, should be well versed:

• The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 2004 (applies to high school students only)
• Subpart D (applies to high school) and subpart E (applies to college) of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008

Referencing the “4 Rs” of College Disability Services, the author provides an overview of Students’ Rights, Reasonable Accommodations, Responsibilities, Reality. The issue of disability documentation is also covered in significant detail, as are several others.

Compact yet comprehensive, Transitioning to College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities is an invaluable resource not only for students with disabilities, but for their parents, teachers and guidance counselors as well.