You have a 504 plan in high school—how does this translate to your life after you graduate?
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A 504 plan comes from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which outlaws excluding people with disabilities from the opportunity to participate equally in federally funded activities, including college.
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Section 504 seeks to equalize opportunities for students with a disability, who may be otherwise inhibited from performing or participating at the same level as fellow students. The term “disability” refers to a physical or mental impairment that may hinder a person’s ability to perform major life activities.
Taking a 504 Accommodation plan to college—how does it work?
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In college, you’ll typically work with your school’s disability services office (sometimes called the accessibility office, student services office, etc.) to plan for accommodations and support. You’ll want to contact the disability services office early, before classes start, to discuss your needs.
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You will need to provide documentation of your disability and how it affects your academic performance. Make sure that you have access to your latest, finalized 504 Accommodation plan. After your senior year 504 annual review meeting, you will receive a finalized copy of the document in the mail. You can scan this for your records or ask your case manager to email you an electronic copy of the finalized document. You may also need to provide medical records, evidence of psychoeducational testing, or a letter from a healthcare professional. While disclosure of your disability to a college is voluntary, it would be necessary in order to qualify.
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In working with a coordinator to determine appropriate accommodations, understand that the accommodations available at universities may differ from the ones that you had on your high school plan. They may be similar, but there can be differences due to the nature of college courses, difference of setting, and higher level of independence required.
If you have questions, please reach out to:
Mara Karpp, SHS School Psychologist
(585) 349-5258
[email protected]