College Preparation for Students with Disabilities

Difference Between High School and College Accommodations

High School	College or University
In high school students have both accommodations and adaptations, and teachers initiate services for students.	In college students have only accommodations, and students are responsible for seeking out accommodation services.
With accommodations students are allowed to complete their work in a different way from typical students: using extra time to take a test, for example.	Students receive classroom accommodations, based on documentation, but they are expected to do the same work on the same schedule as typical college students.
With adaptations the actual assignments for a class may be changed with similar, but different, work required for students with disabilities.	No adaptation of course work is offered in college. All students take the same required courses and do the same work at the same time.
In high school students have a 504 plan or an I.E.P. and teachers are responsible for seeing that students’ educational needs are met.	In college there is no I.E.P. Students are responsible for ensuring that they receive accommodations and that educational needs are met.
In high school teachers ensure that students’ attend classes, they monitor the completion of required work for students, and they follow up when students are falling behind.	In college no one reminds a student to attend class, to do homework, to turn in assignments, or to prepare for tests. Students are 100% responsible for their learning!
In high school parents and teachers make decisions.	In college students makes decisions for themselves.

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