Families sending their young adult off to college is an exciting time. Yet, the transition has its challenges, especially if they have been the primary advocate for their child with a disability. There are many ways families can assist their child with a successful transition to college. Below are some resources to help families make a transition plan that works for their college bound banana slug. For more information about the rights and roles for families and allies, please visit the DRC’s Rights and Roles Page.
For any additional information, or to address questions and/or concerns, please contact the DRC.
The Difference between High School and College
Additional links for further information:
- Differences Between High School and College for Students with Disabilities
- UC Santa Barbara’s DSP Differences in Academic Expectations
- National Center for Learning Disabilities Making the Transition to College
- MNADE Transitioning to College
- Students with Disabilities Preparing for Post-Secondary Education: Rights and Responsibilities.
Encourage Self-Advocacy
One of the best ways to help the student transition into college is to encourage them to develop self-advocacy skills.
This means encouraging the college student to express their needs, ask for help, and engage in personal decision making. For example, instead of making calls on behalf of the student, coach them through the process so they can learn to ask for help and make decisions on their own.
As with anyone learning a new skill, there are bound to be mistakes the college student will make, but these are a natural and important part of development.
- For additional information, please visit Parenting Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities: Becoming the Mentor, Advocate, and Guide Your Young Adult Needs