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Session 905: Transition to Community College

Learn about accessing disability services at community colleges for visually impaired students. Explore support options, rights, and survival tips for a successful academic journey.

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Session 905: Transition to Community College

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  1. Session 905:Transition to Community College Gaeir Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges www.htctu.net gdietrich@htctu.net

  2. Community Colleges • 113 (or so) Community Colleges in California • Two-year degrees (AA/AS) • Eventually a few vocational BA degrees • Transfer to four-year colleges • Vocational programs • Enrichment

  3. Why Community College? • Still in the community • Time to mature • Remedial / basic skills classes provided • Compared to four-year schools • Generally more services • More supportive environment • Slower pace • Instructors more available • Classes often smaller

  4. Disabled Services • Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS or DSS) • Registration help • Counselors • Disability specialists • Advocacy • Alternate media specialists • High tech centers (AT computer labs)

  5. High Tech Centers (AT Labs) • Instruction in assistive technology • JAWS/NVDA • ZoomText • Kurzweil 1000/Kurzweil 3000 • Dragon NaturallySpeaking • Mobile technology • Technology available • Internet access • CCTV • Large monitors

  6. Alternate Media • E-text • Braille • Large print • MP3 • Sometimes DAISY / mobile solutions • It’s good to be able to use as many of them as you can!

  7. Other Services • Test proctoring • Assistance in hiring readers • Notetakers / notetaking strategies • Tutors • Learning assistance • On-campus transportation • Adaptive PE

  8. The Services Are There, BUT • How do students access them? • Sign up with disabled services • You must take the initiative! • Assistance is no longer automatic—you must ask • First steps • Intake session with a counselor • Provide documentation

  9. DSPS Counselors • Counselor’s main focus is campus-related issues • They will vary in how well informed they are about VI students’ needs • Counselors can help with academic information, but they won’t know what works best for you!

  10. Meeting with a Counselor • Make an appointment early • A year ahead of when you plan to attend • Be prepared to… • Talk about goals • Academic goals • Career goals • Life goals • Listen to suggestions • Sign forms as an adult (if you are 18)

  11. Ask About • Financial aid • Transportation • Orientation and mobility • Requesting alternate media • Availability of assistive technology • What other services are available

  12. Find Out How the Campus Can Help • Not all campuses are the same! • Not all disability service offices are the same. • You need to ask about services and decide if that campus will work for you.

  13. What Are My Rights • Campuses must provide accommodations; however, some do it better than others! • Check the AHEAD website for more information: • http://www.ahead.org/students-parents

  14. Where did my VI teacher go? • Very few trained VI specialists at the college level • O&M will generally be through the former school district or Dept of Rehab • This may be the first time there is a blind student on campus • Rare that anyone “speaks your language”

  15. Becoming an Adult • Self-advocacy • Ask questions. • Talk to teachers. • Talk to other students. • Self-responsibility • Staff will assist, not prompt. • Teach others to help you • Sighted guide • Directions

  16. FERPA • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) • At 18, or upon entering college, rights formerly given to parents transfer to student • Affects… • Personal information, education records, conversations with faculty and counselors

  17. What FERPA Means • If you want your parents to be able to ask for information about you, YOU must sign a form allowing campus to release that information • It is your choice! • But remember, if you suddenly need parents to have information, we cannot give it without the release form

  18. Survival Tips • Dept. of Rehab • Sign up early! At least by junior year of HS! • Check with DOR, many offices now accepting referrals at age 14 • “Blindness skills” • O&M field trip to campus • Keyboarding skills • Computer skills

  19. Think about; Talk about • Classroom strategies • How do you take notes? • How do you get information off the board? • Study strategies • What book formats work best? • Can you use tactile graphics? • Utilizing technology • Being able to use multiple tools is a plus! • Using free tools in a pinch is a survival plus!

  20. Picking Your Classes • Choose a balanced schedule and pace yourself! • If math and science are hard for you, take one per term • Balance harder classes with ones easier for you • Choose easier classes the first term • A lot is new, ease into the experience!

  21. Readers Are Not Found on Trees • Students will need to be involved in hiring readers. • Devise a reading test. • Learn to be a manager. • Make expectations clear. • Be aware of potential problems. Other students have finals, too! • You are now a supervisor and personnel manager.

  22. Books Aren’t Found on Trees, Either! • College students buy their books • Work with Dept of Rehab • Be prepared for a much higher volume of reading • Have strategies: When can you use audio? When do you need braille or large print? Can you navigate with DAISY? • Don’t be shy to request what you need • Multiple formats are okay.

  23. There Is No Book Fairy • Learn to ask questions • Talk to the instructor • Talk to the bookstore • Request alternate formats early from DSS • Work with the service providers • Math, science, and music will take longer • The organized, responsible student will receive the best services.

  24. Must Haves • Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) membership • Please note: CCC grant has provided institutional membership to all CCC colleges • Personal memberships still good to have—check with Dept of Rehab for funding • Bookshare membership • Free to all students!

  25. Finding Accessible Textbooks • Learning Ally • Bookshare • Sometimes Amazon has recorded books • Audible.com for novels • Access Text Network’s Accessible Textbook Finder • www.accesstext.org/atf.php

  26. Other Book Options • Both Bookshare and Learning Ally will create alternate formats • Need individual membership • Purchase the book and send for processing. • Caveat: Can take months to produce

  27. Reading Success in College • Learn to use tools that facilitate reading • Assistive technology, mobile devices • Different formats for different subjects • Learn to advocate for yourself • Know what works • Know what doesn’t work • Work with service providers, and also speak up! 27

  28. Fit College to You! • Know yourself and your disability. • Be able to talk about yourself and your needs! • Try out different technologies. • Read for fun to see what works best. • Learn what works well for your individual learning style—and be able to talk about it. 28

  29. Life beyond High School • Watch for campus outreach programs • Attend events with other students, O&M instructor, family • Visit the disabled services offices • Parents and VI teachers…Help with the transition so that students can soar free on their own!

  30. Feel Free to Contact Us! • Gaeir (rhymes with “fire”) DietrichHTCTU Directorgdietrich@htctu.net408-996-6047www.htctu.net

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