Moving On (continued)

• Where can you get information on academic programs of interest to you? What schools offer the program you need?
• What disability-related accommodations and services will you need to be successful? In college, as well as on the job, you are expected to advocate for yourself. You should know what you need to succeed, then find out how to get it. You are the expert! Make a list of all the things that you feel are important for your school to provide. This list should include things in areas such as:
  • degree programs
  • financial aid
  • campus accessibility
  • disability services
  • library support services
  • computer and network access
  • tutoring
  • work study and internships
  • campus climate
  • transportation
  • housing
  • dining
  • child care
  • social organizations
• What, if any, obstacles do you foresee in enrolling in and succeeding at a four-year school, such as finances, general admission requirements, housing, or disability-related accommodations?

After you've made a list of things you need to know, find the answers. The Internet can be a valuable research tool. Contact the schools and get information on general admission as well as specific requirements of the program in which you are interested.

Once you've decided where you want to end up, the next step is to figure out how you are going to get there. Contact the disability services office directly at your top choices of four-year colleges or universities that you may attend. Be specific; tell them that you are thinking about enrolling in their institution. Describe your disability and the types of accommodation that you think will work best for you. Ask them what types of documentation are required to obtain these accommodations. Every college is unique in the types of services they provide and the types of documentation they require.

Visit the campus for yourself. Don't take another person's word that the campus is accessible to you. What is accessible to him/her may not be accessible to you. Arrange for a campus tour. Visit the library, the dining hall, the dorms, the disability services office, the bookstore, and some classrooms.

Now you should be able to rank the schools from the one that meets your needs the best to the one that meets your needs the least. Apply to more than one school. After you receive your acceptance letters, pick the school that is the closest to your ideal. Don't let someone else choose for you. Remember, you are the expert on yourself; you know best what you need to succeed.

Once you arrive at the school, check out programs that may be beneficial and offer specialized services to you such as the women's center, minority programs, or student support groups.

Look Ahead

While you are still in college, start getting ready to transition to the work force. Use a transition plan similar to the one described above. Consider locating a job in college, internship, or a cooperative education experience in the career field you are moving toward. These experiences can help you decide if you really like this career field while there is still time to change your academic goal, provide you with real world experiences that you can put on your resume, and sometimes they even lead to job offers.