How to create a disability services file in college and make sure services are set for the first day

As a student with low vision that spends a lot of time at the computer and working with different types of software, I rely on several accessibility features and the use of assistive technology to access information. While there are some tools that I use…

I frequently get questions about the most common classroom accommodations for low vision from parents, students, and support team members trying to figure out what accommodations they need for Student Assistance Plans (SAPs), 504 Plans, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and college Disability Services files. While…

When I first started buying digital textbooks (eTextbooks) during my first year of college, I assumed that all textbook publishers and platforms offered similar accessibility features and that I would be able to access any book as long as it was in a digital format.…

Eight items every student must know about their IEP so they can self-advocate.

I first learned about vocational rehabilitation for college students with visual impairments when I was getting ready to graduate from high school. Even though I had been registered with the state agency for visual impairment since I was fourteen years old, I hadn’t talked to…

I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) after years of dealing with symptoms, but it wasn’t until I experienced a fall on campus due to overheating/temperature regulation issues that I was officially diagnosed with the condition. My neurologist told me that I had…

I have an eye and brain condition affected by flashing lights. Here’s how I work with instructors to modify assignments and course content as needed

Ten staff members you should meet before or at the beginning of college

When preparing for an IEP meeting, a 504 Plan meeting, or a Disability Services meeting, parents and students will often be asked to come up with sample accommodations that can be used to provide services for students in the classroom. However, it can be very…

A prospective student recently asked me if they really needed to get a Disability Services file for college, because they didn’t want to go through the intake process or go to a bunch of meetings when they would primarily be taking online classes and could…

Even though I didn’t live in a mobility access/wheelchair accessible dorm on campus during undergrad, I still used several dorm room disability hacks to make it easier and more comfortable to move around my dorm. As a student diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and then-undiagnosed POTS,…