Nashoba Regional High School (Lancaster, Bolton and Stow) SEPAC Bolton, MA

1. Nashoba Regional High School (Lancaster, Bolton and Stow) SEPACBolton, MA Presents: Transitioning to College for Students with Learning Differences and Disabilities March 6th, 2019 Cheryl Gallaugher

2. Workshop Goals • Meet the Presenter • Transition Planning • Course Selections at the High School • College Supports and Accommodations • Visiting Colleges: What to look for • Self-Determination • College Readiness and Different Pathways • Career Exploration • Q & A

3. Meet the Presenter • 21st year teaching at Nashoba Regional High School in the Special Education Department • Parent of two sons who graduated from Nashoba (2010 and 2015) • Recent Graduate Student at UMass Boston in the Transition Leadership Program • Registered with disability services • Fall 2016 Sabbatical visiting Colleges, Universities and former students around the U.S. • 21 states • 42+ Campuses • Passions include working with adolescents and young adults, hiking, traveling, and learning

4. Transition Planning • Transition is happening all the time from early on when a preschooler steps into their very first classroom to when you are moving your elderly loved one into assisted living • Transition Planning is the process of gathering resources and knowledge to best prepare for the upcoming transition. This can include: • Reviewing strengths and challenges • Understanding what skills to work on in preparation (IEP goals and TPF) • Meeting with the personnel that will assist with the transition • Working on goals to create relatively seamless transition

5. Class Selection and Team Participation at the High School • Allow students (14+) to drive course decisions that align with future goals • Beginning at age 14, students are expected to participate in their Team meetings • Prior to the team, students should be familiar with their IEP, know about their disability • Class selections will not look the same for every student • State Requirements vs. NRSD requirements vs. College application requirements • Review the Program of Studies found on the Guidance Department site (High school web page under ‘Staff Directory’) • Work with your student and their team to choose the best course selections

6. College Supports and Accommodations • Accommodated Disabilities: • ADHD • ASD • Asthma • Chronic Illness (CF, Crohn’s) • Dietary needs • Dyslexia • Eating Disorders • Hearing Impairment • Learning Disabilities (e.g. speech, verbal, writing, reading, auditory) • Mental Health (e.g. anxiety, depression, etc.) • Physical or Mobility Impairments • Vision Impairment • Food/Environmental Allergies

7. College Supports and Accommodations • Colleges all legally have to offer reasonable accommodations for students who disclose they have a disability and have proper documentation. • Services will vary college to college • Some colleges have programs for a fee that include assigned advisors, study skills classes, and more intensive support • All colleges require students to self-report (after commitment to college) they have a disability • Colleges vary on who will contact the professors about accommodations

8. Common Accommodations • Priority Registration • Alternate format for texts • Note takers • Separate location for tests in distraction free environment (largely different from the high school separate setting students are use to) • Extended time for tests and assignments • Assistive Technology • Housing and Mobility accommodations • Adjustable class loads

9. Next Steps: Create a list of potential colleges (research online, talk to parents of college students, meet with guidance counselors) Visit College campuses and request visits with accessibility services: April break and long weekends in the Fall are perfect times to visit, and look online for open house dates Look into SAT/ACT testing accommodations and which colleges are looking for these scores (Fair test site: http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional) Students should be narrowing down 2 – 3 teachers to ask for academic recommendations from by spring of Junior year Bring questions to ask (see handout)

10. Self-Determination • a concept reflecting the belief that all individuals have the right to direct their own lives. • Students who have self-determination skills have a stronger chance of being successful in making the transition to adulthood, including employment and independence (Wehmeyer & Schwartz, 1997) • Does your child have a trusted adult at school that s/he can go to if they're having a problem with homework, a teacher, etc.? • How independent is your student in making their own decisions? Practice is key (Restaurants, clothes shopping, vacation activities, etc.) • Does your child have the ability to set goals and measure progress towards them?

11. College Readiness: Skills for Success • Independently reading (assigned and free reads) • Has a system for taking notes and studying for exams • Uses a calendar for inputting assignments, appointments and upcoming assessments • Has developed healthy coping strategies for overcoming challenges • Possesses intrinsic motivation to get through menial tasks • Communicates with teachers regarding missing work or needs for extra review • Can name and find necessary resources (medical, financial, academic support, advising, counseling)

12. College and Career Pathways • Public or Private 4 year college (36% completion rate in 4 years, 60% in 6 years, 33% completion rate for students with LD in 8 years) • Public or Private 2 year college • Online classes/degrees • Transfer from 2 to 4 year college • Military service • Night school • Career specific school or training (cosmetology, electrical, culinary) • Gap year • Service year

13. Career Exploration • Starts early (interests, activities, volunteer and paid opportunities) • Interest inventories: Mass CIS, O*NET online, Naviance (Guidance Seminars) • One Stop Career Center (Leominster, Worcester) *good for helping find summer jobs too! • Mass Rehab Commission/ARC of Fitchburg • Job Fairs and Workshops (Landmark March 23rd)

14. Questions? Thank you!!