How to Access Accommodations in College

If you are a senior, you will be making a big decision and placing a deposit at the college of your choice. Now it’s time to plan for your transition to college. If you have received support or accommodations during high school for a learning or physical disability, or health condition, here are the steps you should take to access accommodations in college:

1. Visit the college website and find the page for academic support services or disability services. There you will find specific instructions for how to access accommodations and services. This typically involves completing a registration form on the site and returning it with your most recent neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing.

2. Documentation. The disability services section of the website will explain the documentation that is required to access accommodations. This will vary by type of disability. For some, this will be recent neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing. Other colleges may accept an IEP or high school 504 plan as documentation if it validates the need for accommodations or services and is verified by a trained professional (note that colleges do not use IEPs or the high school 504 plan in college). Others may accept a physician’s letter. Policies vary by college, so be sure to contact the college and verify what is required. Please do not spend money on new testing before checking if your current testing or other documentation is sufficient.

3. Make an appointment. If you are planning to be on campus during the summer for orientation, you may discover that the college has a designated session for students who need services and accommodations. However, if there is no planned session, contact the office in advance to make an online appointment to discuss your specific needs. Otherwise, make an appointment for your first day on campus in the fall.

Pro Tip: We strongly recommend Elizabeth C. Hamblet’s book, 7 Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students With Disabilities, for a wealth of information on the transition to college for both parents and students.

What to Expect 

The professional disability services contact will review your testing and notify you of the services and accommodations for which they believe you qualify. This may or may not be the same as the support that you received in high school. If the college does not provide you with the support you expect and feel that you require, make an appointment and be prepared in the following ways:

• Understand what accommodations and services you seek and WHY you need them.
• Be prepared to explain your disability and how it affects you in plain language, and be sure you understand the explanation.
• Listen to the plan proposed and collaborate to find the best possible compromise.

The college office professionals will explain how to discuss your accommodation needs with your professors and will direct you to available tutoring, coaching, and supplementary instruction.

The Biggest Mistake Students Make

You will be treated like an adult in college, so no one will call or chase you down if you don’t take advantage of the services and accommodations you are offered. Unfortunately, many students arrive at college and want to put their learning disability in the past. All too often, they realize midway through the semester that they are struggling. Jake is one such student. He was a strong enough high school student to be admitted to one of the more selective Boston universities. He is now attending community college after being placed on academic probation after his freshman year. The university that he attended will let him return after he completes a few courses elsewhere.

“I wanted to try to succeed in school without tutoring or using extended time,” said Jake. “I realized too late that I needed the extra support and that it was a big mistake to go without it.”

Jake learned the hard way that he needed to tap into his strengths but not ignore his weaknesses. He is now getting support, especially with time management and planning, and is doing well in school again.

Changing Legal Status

• Be aware that your rights under the law change when you move from high school to college. For instance, a high school may change the nature or scope of a test or an assignment for a student or modify requirements, but a post-secondary institution (college, training program) is not required to do so. Therefore, you may need to find support outside the college if they cannot accommodate your needs, assuming they are adhering to the law. For more information on your rights, read this document from Wright’s Law with links to many helpful articles.

Typical Services and Accommodations Offered For Learning

While colleges are not required to provide accommodations such as personal aides, readers for personal use or study, or personal tutoring, you may find that the college offers more than your high school provided. However, do not assume you will get everything you request. Learning Disability Consultant Elizabeth Hamblet offers advice on what to expect. 

 Here are some of the more common accommodations:

• Extended time on timed tests and quizzes
• Distraction reduced testing environment
• Use of a computer for writing examinations
• Note-taking assistance
• Ability to record lectures
• Use of a calculator
• Access to audiobooks
• Access to text-to-speech software

For students with physical disabilities, Annie Tulkin of Accessible Services provides these tips.

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If you are a student with a learning disability and want some support with the transition to college, contact Ildi Szekely to learn more about our From High School to College: Skills Program for Graduating Seniors. 

You can also watch our video on applying to college for students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, ADHD, and more.

For students with dyslexia, we have prepared an article on accommodations to support their learning.