You’ve Committed to a College! Now What?

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For students with physical disabilities and health conditions, committing to a college is just the start! Upon committing, students should make sure that they have everything in place to ensure a smooth transition. Here are the next steps: 

1. Housing considerations: Most colleges have a process for requesting housing accommodations. The deadlines vary from college to college and range from the end of May to July. Students who are requesting housing accommodations will need to find out about the request process at their school (typically through the disability support office) and start the process ASAP. Students will need to follow the request process and provide documentation. Some examples of housing requests include:

  • ADA accessible rooms 
  • Carpet free rooms
  • Single room
  • Private bathroom
  • Lower floor 
  • Central location
  • Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

2. Academic Accommodations: Now that the student has committed they can begin the process of requesting accommodations. The student should connect with the disability support office (DSO) to ask about the process. Typically, the student is required to provide documentation, and set up a conversation with a counselor in the DSO. Remember to check the documentation guidelines  which are usually on the DSO website to make sure that the student’s documentation meets the requirements. Once the DSO has approved the students accommodations, it’s not over yet! The student will then be responsible for making sure that their accommodations are in place every semester moving forward. 

If your student needs support with their transition to college, identifying accommodations, and self-advocacy, Accessible College is here to help! Contact us for a free 30 minute consultation!