Life After School
Introduction
Postsecondary education is education that takes place after high school such as at a college or technical school. Students with IEPs who transition to a college or technical school will not automatically receive the same accommodations as they did in public school. In college and technical school, these are also called academic adjustments. We will use the term academic adjustments in this section to refer to accommodations, modifications, and/or academic adjustments. It is important that students with disabilities understand when they need academic adjustments and how to ask for them. Transition services can help students prepare for these changes.
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Here is a list of post-secondary schools in South Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions about College and Technical School
In high school, a school district is responsible for finding students with disabilities. If a student needs an IEP or a 504 plan, then the school district conducts an evaluation. In high school, parents are usually the decision makers. This changes after high school. Students are no longer entitled to a free appropriate public education through an IEP. Students must speak up if they need academic adjustments. Students may also need to provide proof of their disability. In college and technical school, the student, not the parent, is usually making the decisions.
If the student needs academic adjustments, the student must tell the school about the disability and ask for help. This is a big difference from high school. Academic adjustments can be requested at any time. Students should ask for them as soon as they know one is needed. Most schools have an office to help students with disabilities. It may be called the Office of Disability Student Services or something similar. Students should contact this office when applying to the school or after enrollment if they need support. The office should let the student know of the process for requesting an academic adjustment. If the adjustment is not working or is not being provided, students should inform the Office of Disability Student Services right away.
In college or technical school, the student must request academic adjustments when needed. What the student asks for depends on the student’s disability and personal needs. Examples are:
- Letting the student take a reduced course load.
- Arranging for someone to take notes.
- Allowing tape recorders.
- Qualified sign language interpreters.
- Service animals.
- More time to take a test.
- Special computer software.
- Rescheduling classes to an accessible location.
- Early enrollment options to allow time to arrange accommodations.
Schools do not have to provide academic adjustments that would result in a fundamental change, which is a change of the program or results in an undue financial or administrative burden. An undue burden means the accommodation would cause significant difficulty or expense. In this instance, the student and the school should explore other reasonable accommodations.
Colleges or technical schools may need proof of the student’s disability and that the student needs help. Some schools need more proof than others. Examples are:
- Diagnosis of the student’s disability.
- A report from the professional who decided the student has this disability.
- An explanation of how the professional made this decision.
- How the disability affects the student’s life.
- How the disability affects the student in school.
A copy of an IEP, summary of performance, or Section 504 plan from high school may not be enough proof for a college or technical school. If the student has had a special education evaluation in the last year or two, it may be accepted. Colleges and technical schools do not have to pay for an evaluation to prove the student’s disability. Students should contact the college or technical school as soon as possible to find out what they will need to provide for the school.
Two federal laws protect students from discrimination.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Title II of the ADA protects people with disabilities from discrimination by state-funded schools such as state universities, community colleges, and vocational schools. If a state-funded school has discriminated against a person because of their disability, the person may file a claim under Title II of the ADA. Students with disabilities at private colleges, universities, and other schools are protected from discrimination by Title III of the ADA which covers places are open to the public. Schools run by a religious group are not covered under the ADA.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: This law also protects college students with disabilities. This law applies to any school that receives federal funds, even if run by a religious organization. Most (but not all) postsecondary schools receive federal money in the form of federal grants to pay student tuition; Section 504 applies to them.
The ADA and Section 504 provide college and technical school students with many important rights.
- Contact the school’s disability support services office.
- If it is a public school, ask for the school’s ADA/504 Coordinator and discuss concerns.
- Ask if the school has a complaint or grievance procedure (public schools with 50 or more employees must have a grievance procedure).
- File a complaint with the right federal agency.
- File a lawsuit in court.
Learn More:
DRSC Factsheet on College Rights
PACER Center: What accommodations can my child receive in college?
There are college programs in South Carolina for students with intellectual disabilities. These programs offer an opportunity to experience college life. They can help students prepare for work and independent living. Current options include the College of Charleston REACH Program, CarolinaLIFE, ClemsonLIFE, Coastal Carolina LIFE, WinthropLIFE, and USCAiken LIFE.
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Students may also want to explore options with their local technical schools or community colleges for non-degree seeking programs or certification programs/trade school programs.
