Disability-Specific Considerations

Those with specific kinds of physical, learning or psychological disorders may need to consider additional issues when selecting the most appropriate college.  This section will give a brief overview of some additional considerations. 

Wheelchair Users

• Does the college have a transportation system?  If so, is it wheelchair accessible?
• What is the physical terrain and layout of the college campus?  Is it spread out over a large area or contained within a small area?  Are the hills or other natural barriers that may have to be maneuvered?
• Are all academic, student support and administrative buildings wheelchair accessible?  If not, does the college have a plan in place for providing access to the programs located in side the inaccessible building?
• Are there adequate accessible restrooms through campus?

Blind/Low Vision

• Does the college have a transportation system?
• Does the college provide mobility & orientation training?
• Is there a system in place to provide textbooks and other reading materials in an alternate format?  Audio, Braille, etc.?
• Is there appropriate signage at crosswalks and other areas necessary for safety?
• Is there Braille signage inside of academic, student support and administrative buildings?
• Does the college have policies ensuring the accessibility of computer based technology and information?
• Do the college’s computer labs provide assistive technology that will allow a blind or low vision user access to the computers?

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

• Are there adequate interpreters or real-time captionists available to cover all of the classes needed?  If not, is the college set up for remote interpreting or captioning?
• Is there a deaf community within the college or within the community?
• Are classroom notes provided to students who are deaf or hard of hearing?
• Does the college provide FM Amplification Systems to students who may qualify for them?
• Does the college provide training to faculty on the best ways in which to work with a student who is deaf or hard of hearing?

Chronic Illnesses

• Does the college allow for flexibility in attendance requirements for students who may have medical issues?
• Are there medical resources on campus or in the community that work with my specific medical disorder(s)?
• Do faculty allow for make up work or extended deadlines for students with medical issues?
• Does the college have a plan in place for medical emergencies that may occur on campus?

Psychological Disorders

• Are there counseling services available on campus or in the community should they be needed for treatment of a psychological disorder?
• Is there a support group on campus for students with psychological issues?
• Does the college have a psychiatrist on staff who works with issues of medication management?
• Is there a plan in place to work with students who may have a psychiatric emergency while on campus?

Learning Disabilities/ADHD

• Does the college have a program in place to provide academic counseling or coaching to students with learning disabilities or ADHD?
• Is there someone on staff at the disability services office who will frequently check in with the student to make sure the student is on task, is meeting deadlines and is managing coursework adequately?
• Does the disability services staff help students with their academic advising, registration and the choosing of appropriate course instructors?
• Is the college prepared to provide auxiliary services such as notetaking, alternate format reading materials, tape recorders, etc. to qualified students with disabilities?
• Are there services available at an extra cost to students who may need more intensive academic support?
• Is there a tutoring program at the university?  If so, is it free or fee based?