SEARCH
AID
PROCESS
LIFE
& MAJORS
LOUNGE
All-Access Colleges
Meeting the needs of students with physical or learning disabilities
How many wheelchair ramps are available in your high school? What about auxiliary aids, Braille textbooks, or sound amplifiers? For students with varying abilities, picking the perfect school goes beyond academics and extracurriculars. If you're searching for schools with more than just great teachers, here is a list of resources to help you get started. Getting In
If you meet the admissions requirements, you cannot be denied entry based on disability alone. This means that no matter where you go, all colleges are required to accommodate students with disability facilities and housing (if also provided to non-disabled students).
Begin by calling admissions and asking if they have amenities that fit your needs. For those with learning disabilities, Peterson's Colleges for Students With Learning Disabilities or ADD provides a list on how each school can match your requirements. Declaring (and documenting) that you have a disability is always optional, but it may be necessary if you need an academic adjustment, special housing arrangements, or auxiliary aids.
Getting Funding
Financial support is available for students with disabilities, but it is scarce. The best place to begin the search for scholarships is by contacting your school's financial aid office as well as disability services.
The HEATH Resource Center at George Washington University offers a comprehensive list of what types of grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study program are available. Contact the HEATH Resource Center online.
Getting Going
Once enrolled, it is up to you to coordinate how your school will accommodate your needs. Students should stop by or call their school's disabilities services office for details on exactly what kind of aid is available. This office can also help with academic adjustments including course substitutions, special seating, and registration assistance, as well as with finding medical specialists in the area in case of emergency.
Christina Couch is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia. She is the author of Virginia's Complete College Resource (Palari Publishing, 2007). Her byline can also be found on Aol.com, Msn.com, Yahoo! Finance, and the Christian Science Monitor. She can be contacted at couchcs@gmail.com.
Share this page:
