Congratulations!
At Accessible College, I support students with physical disabilities and health conditions. I assist students in thinking through their needs in the college setting as it relates to their condition. I work with students in different phases of their process including: during the search and selection process, after they have committed, and post-transition once they are in college. There are many factors that go into finding a college that will be a great fit for a student. Most students start by looking at academic fit, major, finances, and school culture. For students with physical disabilities and health conditions, there is a lot more to consider. That’s where I come in! I support students in thinking through their needs holistically, looking at academic, residential, dining, recreation, and transportation accommodations. I coach students through conversations with the disability support office (DSO) and prepare them to discuss their needs. I also assist students in planning for transfer of care, medication management, hiring and managing Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), and more!
This year, I’ve had the pleasure of supporting a number of seniors in both my private practice, my joint work with college consultants, and my partnership with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation providing free college transition support to students with any type of paralysis. These seniors have a variety of physical disabilities, health conditions, and co-occurring conditions. The vast majority of the students I supported worked with me through their whole college search and selection process. A few had already committed to the college prior to engaging with me (note: while accommodations and health related considerations don’t have to dictate the process, it can be helpful to include these factors in the search from the beginning). The students’ decision making processes were all different. Some students prioritized accessibility, access to medical care, and accommodations, while others looked at college majors, financial implications, and school culture to make their final decision. Many of them connected with the DSO prior to applying and committing. In these cases, the conversations that they had with the DSO helped inform their decision making process tremendously.
Here is the list of colleges that they have committed to:
- High Point University, High Point, NC
- University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
- Belmont University, Nashville, TN
- San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
- University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
- Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
- Bennington College, Bennington, VT
- Clark University, Worcester, MA
- Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
- Baylor University, Waco, TX
- University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL
- California State University-East Bay, Hayward, CA
I’m incredibly proud of these students and their achievements! I am continuing work with many of them through the summer and into the academic year as they request accommodations, hiring PCAs, work on independent living skills, prepare to self advocate, and work through transitioning care.