Going To College What Parents Need to Know & Do Lori Briel Research Associate VCU Center on Transition Innovations June 18, 2015

Importance of Higher Education for Employment According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2011) the number of young adults (25-34) who were employed full time: 48% without a high school diploma 59% with some college 65% with an associate’s degree 71% with a bachelor’s degree or higher

Importance of Higher Education for Employment Youth who participated in inclusive postsecondary education: Data Set: RSA 911 Migliore, A., Butterworth, J., & Hart, D. (2009). Postsecondary Education and Employment Outcomes for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities. Fast Facts Series, No. 1. Boston, MA: Institute for Community Inclusion

Why Attend College? “I wish to seek full time employment so I can become financially independent. Ultimately I would like to have my own home.”

Why Attend College? “I would like to participate in VCU ACE IT in College because I think it will help me get a better job. It will give me something else to do besides watching TV and maybe I can make some friends.”

# 1 Be Aware of Trends in Higher Education First Year Movement Experience Student engagement and retention Collaborative and shared learning communities Use of Technology Online processes and classes Electronic communication and digital resources

# 2 Review “Going To College” Resource with your family member going-to-college.org

# 3 Accept a New Role for Parents Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) No access to student grades No communication with instructors Tuition bills are accessed by student

# 4 Get College Accommodations From the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office Learn the process Start early Have recent medical documentation of the disability with recommended accommodations for learning in college Get letters for faculty each semester Students monitor accommodations

Sample Accommodations Extended time on tests Alternate format books Scribe or reader for tests Recording device for lectures Use of calculator CTI College Accommodation Fact Sheet

# 5 Keep High Expectations For Your Son or Daughter Maintain academics Participate in one student club Volunteer in community Hands On Greater Richmond Hands On Greater Richmond Encourage early work experiences

# 6 Talk Straight about Disability Break down the label into “layman’s” terms What does this mean in everyday life? What is helpful to promote success?

Acceptance of Disability Disability is only one aspect of an individual Disability is one form of diversity Find role models Accepting Disability

# 7 Use the College Career Centers Many offer “menu-type” services that require initiation by student Counselor: student ratio Workshops (Resume express, Interview tips, etc) Attend College Career Fairs If your FAFSA is awarded by March 1 st of the prior year, check out Work Study Work CO-OP (based on GPA and interview) Ask about the federal Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

# 8 Pay Attention to Scheduling Classes Take advantage of Priority Registration! Consider: Course load Course type/style Time of day

# 9 When Choosing a College, Consider the In School Predictors The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) has identified 16 evidence-based predictor categories that are correlated with improved post-school outcomes in employment, education and independent living (Test, Mazzotti, Mustian, Fowler, Kortering, and Kohler, 2009).

In-School Predictors of Post-School Success Evidence-Based Secondary Predictors and Suggested Supporting Evidence-Based Practices. (2013, January 1). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from

Choosing a College Compare across types of programs: 2 yr vs 4 yr DSS Supports Specialized program Talk with students Visit college fairs VA Colleges

VA’s 5 PSE for Students with ID Mason Life - Learning Into Future Environments masonlife.gmu.edu Program for Adults in Vocational Education (PAVE) dent_services/accomm odations/pave.aspx# On Campus Transition Partnership omponent/programsda tabase/program/26 On Campus Transition Program omponent/programsda tabase/program/121

VCU’s ACE-IT in College School of Education Certificate

Certificate Requirements A five semester program credits (4 required courses and 4 electives) One credit internship semester Campus and community employment Volunteer hours and campus activities

# 10 Prepare for Life Long Learning “The only thing constant in life is change” François de la RochefoucauldFrançois de la Rochefoucauld

“What I learned about myself from this class is that I’m a lot more creative than I thought before taking this class.” College student, 2014 Rachel’s BlogRachel’s Blog for Curiousness Class

Resources Going to College A Resource for Teens with Disabilities Collaborative Career Planning for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders worksupport.com/ccp worksupport.com/ccp Think College