Students with Disabilities and the Admissions Process
By Duncan McNeish
College Counselor, Parker Academy, Concord

A common misconception sometimes heard from New Hampshire high school juniors who plan to attend college is that their chances for admission to institutions of higher learning might be diminished if they have an established learning disability(s), which has required special education learning assistance in high school.

I don’t know of a college or university in New Hampshire which does not offer a variety of LD student support services for students deemed eligible to receive them. The support services vary by campus, but remedial math, note-taking and writing services, oral testing, tutoring, student use of tape recorders for coursework, un-timed and extended time for testing, readers and reading machines and other testing accommodations are all common place offerings at New Hampshire college and university student services learning centers. These types of services also exist at post secondary education locations across the United States and Canada. The reason for the widespread availability of such college services is to provide those admitted students who have diagnosed and documented learning difficulties the support they need to help them remediate their learning problems, in pursuit of a successful college experience.

How do I get started?
Services received at the high school level are not automatically put into place at the college level. Students must take the lead in advocating for themselves in order to receive the services they are entitled to.

Students must contact the college’s disability office to verify what documentation is required to apply for services at that school. Often, the college will want to see a copy of the current IEP/504, but will absolutely need copies of the most recent evaluations (a neuropsychological evaluation is typically required).

How will the college know about my disability?
Students choose whether to disclose their disability (504 or IEP) to the college or university. The disability can be disclosed by the student as part of the application process; through the interview, essay, or through letters of recommendation.

If the college knows about my disability, will I still be considered for admissions?
Absolutely! Colleges cannot deny a student admission based solely on his/her disability. However, the college may determine that the student’s disability prevents him/her from being able to access essential components to the program/major and therefore deny admission to a specific program.

What about standardized testing?
Colleges typically do not waive SAT/ACT requirements for students with disabilities. Students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan should request accommodations through the testing agency. Ask your guidance counselor for more information. Most students should apply either right before or after the student takes the PSAT in his/her sophomore or junior year.

Now that I am accepted, what should I do?
Contact the college’s student support services office to verify what documentation is required to apply for services at that school. Often, the college will want to see a copy of the current IEP/504 but absolutely need copies of the most recent evaluations (a neuropsychological evaluation is typically required).

Will I receive more financial aid?
While there is not additional funding for students with disabilities through college financial aid offices, a student’s budget may be increased as a result of extra fees through the learning accommodations center.

Will the college pay for evaluations?
No, it is the student’s responsibility to provide all evaluations and documentation of his/her disability.

FYI—It is the student’s responsibility to notify each professor about his/her disability and the approved accommodations. The disability office will NOT notify individual professors.

Helpful Web sites
www.ahead.org
www.ncset.org
www.thinkcollege.net
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

*Information gathered from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and organized by Center for College Planning at the NHHEAF Network Organizations.