TIPS ON HOW STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN FIND THE RIGHT COLLEGE

Each year, more and more colleges and universities are adjusting their campuses  to accommodate students with a diverse array of needs.  Unfortunately, students with learning or physical disabilities may have to do a little bit more research and browsing before finding the college that best suits their individual needs.

One question that we constantly are asked is, How do students with disabilites  find the right school for them?

As we tell all students, Be your own advocate anduse the your difference in a positive way to separate yourself from the rest.

It seems like those students who are "angular" have a distinct advantage in the college application process, especially amongst highly selective and elite institutions. Athletes, males, females, musicians, leaders, minorities,international students, US students living abroad all have a  little advantage depending upon the "current" needs of the specific college or university, which is why a student's research on colleges is so important. 

Students with learning or physical differences should regard themselves in this category, because they, too, will bring a slightly different perspective to the academic table as well as to the formation of a community.  These students have so much to teach your peers about character, perseverance, flexibility, and patience, and so it is important for these students to evaluate themselves from a positive light,  advocate themselves   as the glass half full, not half empty.

Secondly, when a students with these issues fall into and finds the right college fit, they will be expected to do all the same work as their counterparts in addition to the extra category of accommodations. Not every campus will address these needs as well as others.  All campuses across America are required today by federal mandates to do so, but most will only do the minimal required to meed the state and federal requirements imposed on them.  If you are in need of more assistance, they much more work is required to find the right school.  One place to start your research is to locate the campuses which will excel in addressing the needs of students with either the learning or physical differences, like your counterparts, visiting the campuses will be very important.  Students should try to arrange an overnight stay (preferably with a student who shares your differences), and then shadow that student in a "typical day." on that campus. 

Here is a link where you might start the process.--  http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges       If you feel overwhelmed, contact our office as we work with students who face these issues, and a trained consultant can make your journey of finding the right school a little less stressful.
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