New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Education

College or PostSecondary Education Rights and Responsibilities

• I am a student with a disability leaving high school and entering postsecondary education. Will I see differences in my rights and how they are addressed?

College Support and Resources

• How can a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency assist a person with a disability who is interested in attending college?
• Where can I find college scholarships or grants that are available to individuals with disabilities?
• I would like to go to college but with limited mobility, I will have a difficult time attending classes on-campus. How can I find information on programs that allow students to learn or earn a degree from their home?
• Which colleges and universities offer the best programs and services for students with disabilities?

IDEA (Individualized Education Program

• Where can I find information for my child on IDEA and communicating with the school?

State Specific Questions

Wisconsin

• How can I receive information regarding Wisconsin schools with inclusion programs?

College or PostSecondary Education Rights and Responsibilities

Q: I am a student with a disability leaving high school and entering postsecondary education. Will I see differences in my rights and how they are addressed?

• A: The following publication by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, is available on line at Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities. To order copies of this publication, write:
  
  Education Publications Center
  U.S. Department of Education
  P.O. Box 1398
  Jessup, MD 20794-1398
  
  You may fax your order to: 301-470-1244 or send an e-mail request to: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
  You may also call toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS).
  If 877 service is not yet available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 (1-800-USA-LEARN).
  Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY), should call 1-877-576-7734.
  To order online, point your Internet browser to: www.edpubs.org

  This pamphlet explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure that the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.

  Because both school districts and postsecondary schools must comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, you and your parents might believe that postsecondary schools and school districts have the same responsibilities. This is not true; the responsibilities of postsecondary schools are significantly different from those of school districts. Moreover, you will have responsibilities as a postsecondary student that you do not have as a high school student. Be sure to read this pamphlet to assist you in succeeding in your postsecondary education!

College Support and Resources

Q: How can a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency assist a person with a disability who is interested in attending college?

• A: Your State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency can provide financial assistance if your Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) includes college as a means of achieving a vocational goal leading to competitive employment. VR agencies provide a variety of assistance and have been known to provide assistance for the purchase of computers and specialized equipment. Contact your State VR agency to learn more.

Q: Where can I find information on low-interest loans, scholarship and / or grants available to college students with disabilities?

• A: Back to College offers an extensive listing of financial aid resources. While their website is geared towards returning students, the information provided can be useful to all.

• A: Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities, 2003 Edition is an on-line guide created by HEATH Resource Center. This guide offers "information about federal financial aid programs, describes the relationship between state vocational rehabilitation agencies and the financial aid process, and lists organizations that offer disability-related grants and scholarships for post-secondary education. The paper suggests other sources of financial assistance for individuals with disabilities and recommends websites where students will find additional financial aid information. Also included is a pre-college financial aid checklist to help students plan and manage a funding search."

• A: Midwest Center for Post-secondary Outreach offers a listing of national scholarships and financial aid resources for individuals with various disabilities with focus placed on those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• A: Parents, Inc. based in Alaska, offers a listing of National scholarships awarded to students with disabilities. Financial assistance information is relevant for students in grades K through 12 as well as those pursuing postsecondary education.

Q: I would like to go to college but with limited mobility, I will have a difficult time attending classes on-campus. How can I find information on programs that allow students to learn or earn a degree from their home?

• A: Many colleges and universities offer distance learning/education classes on a regular basis. As such, there are many websites dedicated to this subject. The following resources maintain databases of distance learning courses offered by colleges and universities across the United States. These websites allow potential students to search by course, degree program and/or institution.
  • Cyber U
  • R1.edu
  • Petersons.com

• A: You can also visit NHU's Opportunities: Education: Distance Learning Programs.

Q:Which colleges and universities offer the best programs and services for students with disabilities?

• A: New Horizons Un-Limited has gathered information on colleges in the United States that offer exceptional disability services. Each college listed has been recognized for their disability services. To view this list visit our Education: Higher Education: Accessible Colleges and Universities web section.

• A: New Mobility Magazine has written an article entitled Disability Friendly Colleges. The article lists the top ten colleges and universities that New Mobility has found to be excellent for students with disabilities. Many of the colleges listed go beyond offering just the standard assistive devices. Many of them have created comprehensive programs that will thoroughly meet the needs of enrolled students with disabilities. To view this article, click on the link provided above.

IDEA (Individualized Education Program

Q: Where can I find information for my child on IDEA and communicating with the school?

• A: Exceptional Parent is a 35 year old resource for families and healthcare professionals caring for a loved one with a disability. See their section on education with guides written to give parents tips on IDEA (Individualized Education Program) and Planning for Transition.

State Listings

Wisconsin

Q: How can I receive information regarding Wisconsin schools with inclusion programs?

• A: The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Exceptional Education publishes a directory of schools participating in the Wisconsin School Inclusion Project. To request a copy, send $9.00 to: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Education, Department of Exceptional Education, Enderis Hall, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201 or call (414) 229-5680.

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