Students

Faculty, Staff, and Parents

Resources for Parents

We understand that the transition can be stressful. We want to help.

Transitioning from high school to college can seem a bit overwhelming. We recommend preparing in advance for your children's college experience. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your child for college.

Parent/Guardian FAQs:

We are located on the first floor of Building 9:

Yes and no. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) applies to public elementary school, middle school, and high school. However, after leaving the K-12 system, students continue to have legal rights under certain federal laws throughout higher education and in employment.

When students graduate from high school or reach age 21, they no longer have rights under IDEA.  This is because IDEA establishes the right to a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE), but postsecondary education is not free. There are tuition costs to attend colleges and universities.  

College students retain access to academic accommodations through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and they are still protected from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

We cannot guarantee that they will receive the same accommodations in college.

Since college professors plan their classes a bit differently, it is not always possible. For example, we cannot guarantee that professors can provide a copy of their lecture notes in advance, or any lecture notes at all, as many professors teach through class discussions that can be unpredictable.  

We also cannot provide an instructional aide to sit with your child for physical or medical reasons. We do allow a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) to attend classes with your child, under the following conditions:

  • PCAs must be cleared through the DRC office.

  • The student is responsible for hiring and paying them, as well as managing their schedules.

  • PCAs are not allowed to do the work for the student - however they may act as a scribe if necessary.

We cannot disclose any information regarding how your child is doing, including disclosing their grades or any of the information on in their files, without their written consent. If they wish, students may complete a release form that allows us to share information with you. 

Tips:

  • Update documentation; be sure it addresses the accommodations that students will need, and send it to the appropriate college office well before your first semester.

  • Make sure your child understands and is able to articulate what their challenges are.

  • The actual time spent in classes is considerably less in college than in high school, creating much more free time. Therefore, college requires a lot of self-discipline, time management, and strong study skills.

  • Encourage your child to take advantage of free resources on campus.

  • Encourage your children to advocate for themselves. Please let them know that their voices matter and we are here to make they feel they are supported.  

  • The freedom to cut classes or spend time with friends is much greater in college than in high school. Missing classes, however, is directly correlated to failure in college.

  • College professors spend much more time lecturing and expect students to read and study on their own.

  • Studying in college does not necessarily mean homework; it means independent learning, such as reading, reviewing notes, or studying outside sources in the library.

  • For every hour in class, at least 2 hours outside of class should be spent studying per week. So a 4-unit course will require about 12 hours of work per week: 4 hours of class time plus 8 hours of study outside of class. Remember, if your child has any processing deficits, then they will mostly likely need to plan for more than 8 hours per week of study time. 

  • Tests in college are generally given less frequently than in high school, so grades are based on fewer opportunities. This means there is a greater chance of receiving a poor grade in the class.

  • In college C (not C-) is generally considered the lowest passing grade; anything lower can put students at risk for probation or dismissal.