A Note of Appreciation
May 11, 2022
When Should I seek Help for my Struggling Reader?
June 1, 2022
At the post-secondary level, the purpose of accommodations is to allow the student to have equal access to educational opportunities. Having an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan (student support plan) will be part of the documentation but may not be sufficient.
The young adult applying for services will need to provide documentation of how their disability impacts Major Life Activities including concentrating, managing internal and external distractions, managing stress, meeting deadlines, learning, thinking, interacting with others, reading, writing, and social interactions to list just a few.
Most Colleges/ Universities have specific forms that need to be completed by a licensed professional such as a Psychologist, Medical Doctor or a mental health specialist (forms can be found on the University website). That specialist will document the history of symptoms and previous treatments, including medication history. For some Disabilities, such as a Learning Disability, standardized testing may be required. The student must be prepared to share how their disability affects their learning or academic performance with the professional who completes the Disability Documentation Forms. Think about any physical challenges or health issues that might impact the ability to easily get around campus or regularly attend class. The licensed professional, working with the young adult, makes recommendations for accommodations based on the student’s documented disability.
If the student is currently being treated by several licensed medical professionals, ask those specialists to complete documentation forms too.
In summary here is the process for obtaining accommodations:
- Get in touch with Accessibility Services as you are applying to college.
- Explain your situation and ask what they need for documentation.
- Go to the website of the University and print any forms that need to be completed by a licensed medical professional.
- Bring previous evaluations and the University’s forms to the appointment with the professional who is helping you document your need for accommodations.
- When you enter the University as a student, have an extra copy of all the forms/documents that were submitted. Sometimes documents get lost.
Now you are on your way!!
1 Comment
I just went through this process when I went back to college. I graduated high school in 2009 and my IEP expired 5 years after that. Boone county school office kept my record for 2 more years after that and they gave me a choice to come get my folder from them. I went to collect it a couple years back and thank goodness I did. I’m just graduated college with an associates degree and from the medical assisting program. To get accommodations on my RMA (registered medical assistant) exam I have to provide historical evaluation from when I was first diagnosed, recent evaluation, a brief statement on how the accommodations will help me, fill out an application, proof of prior accommodations granted within the last 6 months. Keep all your documents, expired IEP and past evaluations. You will probably need them again one day. 🙂