Why college shouldn’t hold anyone back!

By Elise Giacobbe

The college application process is stressful, frustrating and time consuming for everyone. But when you need to dig deeper into your research aside from major, location and price, that is where things can get challenging. Here are some tips and pointers to ease your mind and lead you in the right direction.

Research for families of people with disabilities and special needs doubles, if not triples. Some major aspects of college life: housing, technology, class enrollment, and transportation to name a few need to be accessible for a variety of disabilities. With disability awareness and technology growing, many colleges and universities offer extended resources.

On the east coast alone there are many campuses that offer comprehensive or specialized programs. Many are equipped with offices and services that help students with accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology. New Jersey also has over ten colleges or universities with disability services, offices and other resources. Some include:

Monmouth University Farleigh Dickinson University Rutgers University Ramapo College Seton Hall University

Click here for more information on schools in New Jersey.

There are some of the top 20 schools in the nation with resources for people with disabilities right outside of New Jersey:

Drexel University Marshall University Hofstra University University of Connecticut Marist College

All of these accredited schools provide mobile applications, websites, and software for deaf or hard of hearing people, the visually impaired, people with physical disabilities, autism, learning disabilities, dyslexia and ADHD.

Along with campus resources, students with disabilities or special needs are legally protected through state, federal, and local laws. These laws prohibit discrimination and require equal levels of access to academic services, environments and resources. Some of these legal rights include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

When first jumping into this process a lot can be overwhelming so here is a quick list of the starting steps:

Profile colleges Schedule a visit Check student services for resources Check for housing accommodations See what online courses are available

Once you dig into these areas, then you can narrow down your search and focus on a few schools that fit you or your loved ones specific needs. College is an opportunity everyone should enjoy at all ability levels.

Resources:

Best Colleges for Disabled Students

Top 20 Colleges for Special Needs Students