The transition from high school to college is as much for parents as for high schoolers. For parents of kids with disabilities, including dyslexia, this transition is about more than packing twin sheets and reviewing class choices. It’s about watching your child advocate for themselves and navigating the next phase in their education, but this time from a different vantage point. 

College and Disability Law

Perhaps the biggest change for parents is changing from IDEA, the Federal Education Act, to the ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act. Colleges do not have to comply with IDEA. Instead, they comply with ADA Section 504.

The ADA is a Civil Rights Law, guaranteeing access to public services to people with disabilities. It means that universities that receive public funds must provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities so they can access their services.

What are reasonable accommodations?

For the most part, the same accommodations that your child has in their IEP or 504 plan can be provided under Section 504 in college. The difference is that, instead of discussing accommodations as a team, each student requests accommodations through the school’s disabilities office.

How to Support your Dyslexic Kid for College

Apply for accommodations

After you get an acceptance, contact the college disabilities office and ask how to apply for accommodations. Applications for accommodations do take time, so this is what can be done in the spring or summer before they enroll.

Get organized

Help your child organize and understand the information in their file, including their diagnosis, the most recent IEP or 504 plan, and the list of accommodations they are requesting. Be specific with accommodation requests and ask for the most helpful ones.

Prepare to advocate

Once on campus, students with disabilities must notify their professors about the required accommodations. Each semester, professors receive information about students’ accommodations.

It is expected that some students in any class will have accommodations. Still, it’s likely the first time some students have made requests.

Have your child practice talking with teachers about accommodations and paying attention to how teachers provide them.

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Create a list of campus resources

Use the school website to create a list of places and resources your child may benefit from, such as note-taking services, writing labs, and on-campus tutors. Identify spaces your child might want to visit for quiet spaces to study.

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Think through the transition

How will the transition to college be a change for your child in terms of time management and organization?

For example, they’ll be taking courses at all hours of the day and may have to walk across campus to get there. Help them map out their semester schedule and how they will get from class to class.

Also, they will have to manage the workloads of multiple classes. What strategies your child use in high school will work in higher ed?

Be available

You can visit the office of disabilities with your child, but due to federal privacy laws, the school cannot give you any information. Your child has to do the talking and lead the conversation. Any requests now need to go through your child. Decide if your child wants you to attend meetings or if they would prefer to go on their own, and let you know how you can help.

Managing Reading Demands

College-level reading may vary from the reading they experienced in high school. The vocabulary and topics may be higher, and college professors do not provide as much pre-work or pre-teaching as high school teachers. Help your child identify reading strategies that work for them. One strategy to try out before they leave is S3QR: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. It is a strategy they can use when reading any textbook or article.

Set up the Tech

Technology is a huge help to students with dyslexia. Help your child set up and practice using tech supports, like text-to-speech software, highlighting software, and built-in dictionaries to support comprehension. Universities do not need to provide software to students, so make sure they have the software they need installed on their computers before they arrive on campus.

Here are 7 text-to-speech software that can make your life easier.

Celebrate!

The transition to college is a huge milestone, and you did it! Take time to celebrate your child’s achievements and enjoy being an undergrad.

Some suggested accommodations

• Be provided with PDF copies of reading assignments so students can load it into a software that will read it aloud to them
• Electronic versions of textbooks
• Recorded lectures
• Use of writing software to catch grammatical and spelling errors
• Extended time to take tests or complete assignments

Key Takeaways

1. Familiarize yourself with the shift from IDEA to ADA Section 504, and what this means for your child’s rights and accommodations in college.
2. Prepare your child to independently request and discuss their accommodations with college professors and the disabilities office.
3. Ensure your child is equipped with the necessary documentation, technology tools, and knowledge of campus resources to support their academic success.

Points of Action

• Arrange a campus visit specifically to meet with the disabilities office and familiarize your child with the environment.
• Ensure your child participates in any orientation programs for students with disabilities, which can provide valuable insights and support.
• Work with your child to set realistic academic goals and develop a plan to achieve them, fostering a sense of accountability and motivation.
• Keep an eye on your child’s mental health by encouraging them to use campus counseling services if needed.

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