Attending College as a Student Affected by Disabilities

College Resources, Rights, and Scholarships for Students With Disabilities

Disabilities should never stop someone from pursuing their goals, especially if that includes attending college at their dream school. While parents may worry about what limitations a child affected by a disability may face, with a little bit of research and a solid support system, students with disabilities can have an extremely positive college experience.

Over the years, schools, universities, and society in general have become more accommodating to people with disabilities. Whether you are at a school or other public space, you will almost always notice sidewalk ramps and special parking spaces. Universities that are striving to be as inclusive as possible may also offer sign language interpreters, course substitutions, and test-taking accommodations. However, many establishments still have a long way to go in terms of providing the necessary resources and tools to ensure that all students will be able to succeed.

Understanding Your Rights as a Disabled Student

Several laws exist today to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including students. Some of the most important protections in place include:

• Americans With Disabilities Act: This law guarantees inclusivity and non-discrimination for college students with disabilities, ensuring reasonable accommodations, accessibility throughout facilities, and enhanced communication efforts.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: This ensures that programs funded federally, including schools, protect students with disabilities against discrimination, unequal accessibility, and other limitations related to education.

Other important acts passed by Congress over the years that have made higher education more attainable for students with disabilities include the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) and the Assistive Technology Act.

Through these laws, students with disabilities are better able to partake in extracurricular activities and receive necessary aids. They will also be allowed service animals when necessary. The ultimate goal of these laws is to ensure that people with disabilities are given equal opportunity to a high-quality education.

Preparing for College When Faced With Disabilities

Knowing your rights as a student with disabilities can help you ensure that your school of choice will be able to meet your needs. However, there are many other ways to feel more prepared as you begin your college career.

When determining what school will best fit you, knowing how comfortable you will be on campus is essential. Contacting a school's disability services office may help you better understand what resources will be available. If possible, making in-person visits to a school before making your ultimate decision could provide you with the assurance that a school will provide you with the tools you need to thrive during your college education.

Most importantly, remember that you have a support system, and you are not alone. Understand what you need from your university, and do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Scholarships for Students Affected by Disabilities

One of the most prominent missions of My College Companion is to make higher education more accessible to all students. Students with disabilities may face massive hurdles as they embark on their college journeys, and it is our hope to bring relief and positivity in as many ways as possible.

Scholarships serve as some of the most significant resources students can turn to in order to ease the stress of starting college. Universities may offer internal scholarships to their students, but we highly encourage students to explore external scholarship opportunities. You may be surprised to learn that there are scholarships available specifically for students with disabilities, including:

• Schwartz Injury Law Perseverance Scholarship: As a personal injury law firm, Schwartz Injury Law hopes to help students who have suffered serious injuries due to medical issues or accidents by offering a $1,000 scholarship to put toward tuition and other academic expenses.
• Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship: This unique opportunity offers $1,000 to students whose parents have been seriously affected by a work-related injury.