Transitioning from High School to College Accommodations.

Starting college is different from high school — especially when it comes to accommodations. Understanding these differences helps you prepare for success.

• Students are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a funding statute that requires schools to identify students with disabilities and provide special education services.
• Caregivers play an active role in developing Individualized Education Plans or 504 Plans and often communicate directly with teachers.
• IEPs may include curriculum modifications, shortened assignments or reduced workload.
• The school identifies students and coordinates accommodations.

• In college, you are your own advocate. Accessibility Services is here to support you — but you must initiate and maintain the process.
• IDEA does not apply to post-secondary institutions. Colleges operate under civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws require reasonable accommodations to ensure access — not modifications of curriculum.
• You are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all educational institutions receiving Department of Education funds.
• The Office of Accessibility Services communicates directly with you regarding accommodations. Faculty and OAS do not routinely communicate without your involvement. If concerns arise, you are responsible for contacting OAS for support.
• Accommodations provide access, not modifications. Curriculum, academic standards and workload remain the same as for all students.
• You must self-identify, provide documentation and request accommodation letters each semester.