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Understood.org: 7 things to know about college disability services
If your child has had an or a in high school, you’ve been able to play a role in the process. You’ve had access to the people who are providing supports and services. And you’ve been able to monitor how well those supports are being implemented.
College is a different story — starting with the fact that there are no IEPs or special education in college. For some parents, that can be hard to adjust to at first. Still, almost all colleges have a disability services office for students with learning and thinking differences.
Here are seven things to know about college disability services, and how they differ from high school.
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THE NCCSD CLEARINGHOUSE AND RESOURCE LIBRARY
What are the NCCSD and Clearinghouse doing?
Our mission is in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The NCCSD has three purposes:
Provide technical assistance and information to anyone needing information about disability and higher education, including college students, their families, faculty, college administrators and staff, disability services professionals, researchers, and policymakers. We accomplish this through our national online clearinghouse and through our student group, DREAM. We also welcome questions and may contact us at any time.
Collect information and do research about disability services at campuses in the United States, sharing findings with the public. For more information, see our research page.
Report to the U.S. Department of Education about the current status of college students with disabilities in the U.S.
The Clearinghouse is one product of the NCCSD. Other services and activities include answering calls from students, families and professionals, maintaining a social media presence and conducting research. We welcome your feedback about this site and encourage you to take a look at the evolving list of reviewers who have helped us create and edit this site.
Contact us with questions, comments and suggestions at nccsd@ahead.org or 844-730-8048 toll-free. -
The National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD)
Who We Are
In 2021, a federal discretionary grant (P116D210002) was awarded via the National Center for Information and Technical Support for
Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Program (NCITSPSD) to the
University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI-UMN), in full partnership with the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and is authorized by Congress in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (777.4).
The National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), was first established December 1, 2015, under federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education (P116D150005), through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).
Learn more about:- Our team
- Our advisory board
- Campus partners and organizations working with us
What We Do
Our mission is in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The NCCSD has three purposes:- Provide technical assistance and information to anyone needing information about disability and higher education, including college students, their families, faculty, college administrators and staff, disability services professionals, researchers, and policymakers. We accomplish this through our national online clearinghouse and through our student group, DREAM. We also welcome questions and may contact us at any time.
- Collect information and do research about disability services at campuses in the United States, sharing findings with the public. For more information, see our research page.
- Report to the U.S. Department of Education about the current status of college students with disabilities in the U.S.
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Success 101: A College Readiness Course
Success 101 is a 3-credit college readiness course designed to prepare students for the rigors and expectations of higher education. Students who take this course experience Bergen Community College’s support team of tutors, counselors, librarians, learning communities, workshops, events, clubs, student organizations, and the OneStop.
The curriculum includes:
- Transition from high school to college
- Self-management and organization (time, money, academic)
- Study strategies, note-taking, test-taking skills
- Degree exploration, course planning, and career development
- Health, wellness, interdependence, and emotional intelligence
- Critical reading, writing, thinking, and oral communication needed for higher education and beyond
- Five-year plan for academic and personal success
Success 101 is located under Interdisciplinary Studies (IST123) and can be performed as a dual enrollment course at your high school, incorporated into your Early College or Early Career curriculum or taken as a stand-alone course at Bergen Community College. Credits transfer to most higher education institutions. There are no prerequisites or minimum SAT scores needed to enroll in this course.
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Turning Point Program
The Turning Point Program is a two-year postsecondary experience for young adults with intellectual disability interested in academic, vocational and social enrichment.
Students participate in a career pathway credentialing course and have the opportunity to graduate with professional industry recognized credentials as well as a Certificate of Achievement through the Division of Continuing Education.
The Turning Point Program is a non-degree program and is not a bridge to matriculating in a degree seeking program at the College.
The Turning Point Program supports competitive integrated employment as a goal for each student participant.
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What is The TalentED Project?
College fit matters. Research shows that when a first-generation, lower-income students attends a college that isn’t a good academic fit, he is less likely to graduate from college or attend graduate school and is more likely to earn less money over his lifetime. The TalentED Project helps college access professionals and the students they serve find colleges and universities that are good academic, financial and social fits. Free for all users, TalentED’s college search and institution profiles are curated to provide access professionals and first-generation, lower-income students with the necessary information to identify good-fit campuses.
Accessible College/Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Partnership Continues!
Accessible College is pleased to announce that our partnership with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to offer FREE college transition support services to students with paralysis is entering its second year!
Who is eligible:
Students with paralysis who are considering post-secondary education. Through this project we have worked with high school students and adult students.
Registration:
Students and families can sign up for this service by contacting an Information Specialist at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to see if they are eligible:
Phone: 1-800-539-7309 (Ask for an Information Specialist)
Web: www.ChristopherReeve.org/Ask
Learn More:
Kick-Off Webinar and Overview (Webinar Recording and Blog)
Supporting High School Students with Paralysis with the Transition to College (Blog Post)
Starting College or Returning to College with Paralysis (Blog Post)
College Transition Booklet Available to Help Students with Paralysis Navigate College (Webinar Recording and Blog)
Free Transition Guide for Students with Paralysis:
This transition guide, was written by Annie Tulkin, Founder and Director of Accessible College, for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Navigating and Transitioning to College with Paralysis