Are there differences between high school and college disability services?

While similar in aim, postsecondary services for students with disabilities are not a continuation of earlier special education services. The kinds of support services received in high school will not necessarily be continued similarly at the college level.  There are a number of differences between high school and college which result in new roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Some of these are as follows:

·         Students must self identify directly with the Disability Services Office and provide documentation that demonstrates a substantial limitation to one or more major life activities as defined under the ADA.

·         Students are treated as independent adults and are expected to take full personal responsibility for their educational experience. Students must advocate for themselves. 

·         Students must request accommodations from the DSO in order to receive them and do so on a semester by semester basis. Primary responsibility for accommodations belongs to the student. Accommodations are not put in place automatically. 

·         Students are expected to monitor their own progress, seek out assistance, and communicate their needs to appropriate staff or faculty.

·         Students must make decisions on their own, manage their own time, and arrange their own schedules.

·         Students must meet all academic standards and requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. Postsecondary institutions are not required to reduce, alter, or waive any of the essential requirements of a course or program.

·         Students must arrange for and obtain their own personal assistants or tutoring.