Which College is the Most Accessible?

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Four arms and hands (brown and white skin tones) holding up graduation caps. One of the caps is red.

A question that I am asked asked all the time is: “which college is the most accessible/best for students with X condition”? Unfortunately, there is no good answer to this question. All colleges in the US that received federal funding are technically required to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, “compliant” does not always mean that it meets the needs of the individual student. For students with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and health conditions (including chronic health and mental health conditions) there is so much to consider, and it’s critical that students do their research! Students should connect with the disability support office prior to applying and committing to get a better sense of what accessibility and accommodations look like at that specific school. While many accommodations may be similar from college to college, the process and care in which they are administered varies widely. Much of this depends on the people in the disability support office, alongside the scope and mission of the office and the university at large. Students with mental health conditions may also want to connect with the college’s counseling center. The services that the counseling center provides, and the number of times that they will see students also varies widely. It’s important for students to know before they go!

Accessible College works alongside high school counselors and independent college consultants to support students with physical disabilities and health conditions and ensure that students are asking the right questions to be prepared for the transition to college. While there is no magic list of schools that are the best for a student with a physical disability or health condition, students can make an informed decision. This year, Accessible College, supported each of the students we worked with to create a working list of accommodations that apply to the college setting and to identify specific questions for the disability support offices. The students were able to engage independently in conversations and emails with the disability support office and apply for accommodations (academic, housing, dining, and recreation). They learned valuable self-advocacy skills to carry them into their first year. Here is a list of colleges, in no particular order, that these students will be attending in the fall:

  • New York University 
  • Grinnell College
  • Howard University
  • George Washington University
  • MIT
  • Rhodes College
  • University of Delaware
  • University of San Fransisco
  • Rollins College
  • University of Florida
  • University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Accessible College can ensure that your student is prepared for the transition to college! Connect with us today!