Navigating the College Process for Students with Disabilities

**It is up to the student to decide to disclose a disability during the application process. It is not a required piece of your application. Discuss your options with your counselor!

The College Search Process

  1. Understand your GPA, standardized test scores, transcript (rigor of courses taken), and other outside activities that provide schools a picture of who you are as a student.

  2. Consider demographic, academic, and financial preferences.

Important Questions to ask during your search:

  • How important is it to have a conversation and get personal attention from your professors?

  • Do you prefer a highly structured environment or curriculum that allows for more independent projects?

  • Do you know what you want to major in? Do you think your major may change?

  • What level of academic challenge is right for you?

  • What type of housing do you require?

  • Are there certain medical and other support services that you will need?

  • What geographical location is right for you? Do you prefer a rural, small town, suburban or urban setting?

  • Do you prefer a large, medium or small population of students?

  • What type of social environment do you prefer? What student activities are you interested in?

Create a balanced list of schools to apply to that include likely, target and reach schools. Consider the disability services that would benefit you as select schools to apply to. Your counselor can assist with this process. The scattergrams in Naviance Student will also assist you in identifying how to classify the schools that you are applying to.

Speak to your parents, your school counselor and your case manager to create a list of schools that are a good “fit” based on the above mentioned attributes.   Visit these schools.

Explore the disability services and supports that are available at each school.  At most schools it is the Office of Disability Services that would provide details regarding services and availability of accommodations. Other names for this department are Access Service or Office for Equity and Access.

Create a balanced list of schools to apply to that include likely, target and reach schools. Consider the disability services that would benefit you as select schools to apply to. Your counselor can assist with this process. The scattergrams in Naviance Student will also assist you in identifying how to classify the schools that you are applying to.

College Learning Support Services