Editor’s Note: This is the third article in SEED’s four-part series highlighting the role that high-quality on-campus student support services play in college success. In this installment, we discuss the importance of disability supports and how SEED partners with right fit colleges to ensure students have access to the services that they can benefit from—and are entitled to. To learn more about the importance of on-campus financial and academic supports, check out the first two articles in our series.
Right-Fit Matters: On-Campus Disability Supports Contribute to College Success
Editor’s Note: This is the third article in SEED’s four-part series highlighting the role that high-quality on-campus student support services play in college success. In this installment, we discuss the importance of disability supports and how SEED partners with right fit colleges to ensure students have access to the services that they can benefit from—and are entitled to. To learn more about the importance of on-campus financial and academic supports, check out the first two articles in our series.
Self-Advocacy Starts at SEED
First-year college students have a lot to juggle. They must find their footing academically and socially while adjusting to the independence of their new environment. And for students with disabilities, obtaining accommodations and support is an added change. Luckily, SEED’s College Transition & Success programming and the disability support offices at right fit colleges empower students to make the most of their college experiences.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of undergraduates report having some kind of disability—which can include physical disabilities, health conditions, and cognitive and learning differences. For these students to continue receiving essential support services while in college, they must know what services are available, how to find them, and how to ask for what they need. SEED graduates who require disability supports have a leg up when it comes to doing this type of self-advocacy because they start preparing with their SEED advisors long before they get to campus.
Steps to Success
The first step to a successful transition for a student with disabilities and/or learning differences is finding a right fit college with strong on-campus supports. SEED endorses colleges that have well-designed, accessible, and available resources that help students thrive.
The next step is to prepare the required documentation. Many colleges require students to bring physical documentation with them from their high schools, including IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans) and testing results. Students often have a short window early in their freshman year to provide this information. College Success Advisor Kiaira Muhammad and her colleagues at all SEED campuses facilitate students submitting all required information before high school graduation. Since each college has different requirements, it is very helpful for students to have a seasoned expert like their SEED college success advisors to help them collect everything they will need. Making sure students can meet these requirements is an essential part of SEED’s summer advising.
Once students arrive on campus, it is up to them to take the step to connect with their respective office of disability support, self-identify as someone who can benefit from accommodations, and seek out the right resources. This is a barrier for some new college students, explains Ms. Muhammad. “Some students have that ‘bootstrap mentality’ and think they should just be able to do it on their own. They may also feel like they’ll be somehow singled out. Or, they may just feel they no longer need the accommodations that they used in high school.” It is ultimately up to the student to decide what they want to do, but when they have a SEED college success advisor and strong on-campus supports, they have the benefit of choosing to take advantage of a range of available resources.
Right Fit Colleges Partner with Students
Effective disability support services at right fit colleges partner with students who take the initiative to seek out services to identify the best resources for each individual. Ms. Muhammad has seen right fit colleges at work providing effective on-campus disability support for her advisees. These colleges excel at communicating with students, understanding their individual needs, and connecting them with support. “At Elizabeth City State University, where SEED Miami students have been successful, the office of disability support is proactive in their communication. For example, if they have on file that a student previously received services and saw that their grades are slipping, they will email the student informing them about services such as tutoring. Another example is Johnson C. Smith University. I was reminded how great their office is when I visited a few graduates during a College Outreach Visit. I saw them encouraging students to bring in documentation, offering testing if needed, and going through class schedules with students to help them figure out what kinds of accommodations to ask for in each class,” shares Ms. Muhammad.
While all colleges are required to provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities, the quality and substance of those services varies. Right fit colleges have disability support services that are easy for students to find, have staff who are knowledgeable about how to support students, and are proactive about offering options best suited for each individual student. These colleges create an intentional culture of inclusivity that provides a sense of belonging for all students, including those with disabilities. SEED continues to seek out and highlight the work of our right fit college partners and their commitment to college success for all students.
To learn more about right fit college matching, and SEED’s College Matching Technology (CMT), click here or contact Vincena Allen, chief growth officer, at vincena@seedfoundation.com.