Making the Transition from High School to College

ShareThis

The following chart outlines the differences between secondary and post-secondary education in relation to the role of disability services.

Applicable Laws

I.D.E.A. entitles all children with disabilities to a "free and appropriate public education."
Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 allows for accommodations such as the shortening of assignments or use of notes on tests.

A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), states that in all areas outside of public schools, nondiscrimination is accomplished by means of accessibility through barrier removal, including "reasonable accommodations."
Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, upholds the institution′s right to maintain the academic standards, and no accommodations are permitted to reduce that standard for any student. Shortening assignments and using notes when other students do not, are not considered "reasonable accommodations."

Parents are the primary advocate for the student.
Parent has access to student records and is allowed to participate in the accommodation process.

The student must be his/her own advocate.
Parent does not have access to student records without the student′s written consent.

The student is identified by the school and is supported by the parents and teachers.
The school is responsible for arranging appropriate accommodations.

Student must self-identify with the Office of Student Disability Services. *Please contact the office to schedule an intake appointment with the Director of Student Disability Services.
Student must take primary responsibility for meeting with SDS to arrange their accommodations and for contacting professors in private to discuss accommodations.

An I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan) and/or 504 Plan is used to make sure that teachers, counselors, and parents are aware of the disability and all necessary accommodations.
The school provides an evaluation at no cost to the student.

High school I.E.P and 504 Plans are not sufficient documentation at the college level.
The student must be evaluated at their own expense by a licensed or certified professional.
Documentation should be current within three years, but exceptions may be necessary depending upon individual circumstances and the nature of disability.
Documentation must be comprehensive and describe the specific functional limitations of the student. For more information on the necessary documentation required by Rhodes College, click here.