by Linda Goldman
There are many considerations that come into play when deciding what to look for in a college. In Part 1 of Life After the IEP: Transitioning to College, we addressed some preliminary matters, such as the documentation that colleges need in order to provide your son or daughter with academic and learning support. But there are also practical considerations that must be addressed by a prospective college student and their family.
All young adults transitioning to college confront new challenges, and there are certain foundational skills that are essential for a successful transition. If your son or daughter has indicated that they would like to live away from home in a college dormitory, it is incumbent upon you, as parents, to assess whether they have developed sufficient self-management skills to live independently.
The kinds of pre-requisite independent living skills to think about as you undertake this assessment include good personal hygiene, knowledge of how to handle basic finances, self-advocacy skills, living skills like the ability to do laundry, organizational skills sufficient to manage college coursework, the ability to comply with a schedule, time management techniques, awareness of dietary and nutritional issues, flexibility and adaptability, understanding of basic health issues including the ability to take medication independently and recognize when they need urgent care, the ability to travel independently, self-regulation skills, and finally the ability to manage emotions, particularly anxiety. It is also important for parents to be in a position to determine, ideally with the help of high school guidance and counseling personnel, whether the student will be able to negotiate and manage the more complex social relationships that they will encounter in a college setting in a mature and healthy way—and without the more restrictive types of supports and interventions that the student might otherwise be accustomed to.
In identifying potentially appropriate colleges, it is prudent to consider, along with the costs, factors including the distance from home, the size of the school, the academic difficulty of the classes, and the student's interests and whether the school offers classes, programs, and majors in those areas.
Families should also consider what kind of college program is most appropriate. Some students start out at a community college, or two-year program, earn an associate degree and then transfer; others go straight to a four-year college or university; and there are still others who elect to take a gap year—an increasingly popular option.
Families should always poke around a college’s website and call to find out what programs they offer students with disabilities. The level of supports that are available is an important indicator of how that college treats its students, and it speaks volumes about its philosophy regarding those who learn differently.
One book that might be useful to students with learning disabilities, autism, or ADHD who are beginning their college search is The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, 13th Edition: 353 Schools with Programs or Services for Students with ADHD, ASD, or Learning Disabilities (College Admissions Guides), published by the Princeton Review.
Visit potential colleges more than once, ask as many questions as possible, speak to administrators, faculty, current students, and, (of course) attend all tours and open houses. Knowledge is power!
Happy Holidays from Skyer Law
You may not wear capes, but you, our clients, are superheroes. Every day we are awed by your grace and strength.
Happy holidays!
The Law Offices of Regina Skyer & Associates, L.L.P.
Tuition Reimbursement Delays? Let’s #AskTheMayor!
Last May, Mayor Bill de Blasio began making weekly guest appearances on the Brian Lehrer Show on NPR, usually on Fridays (but sometimes on Wednesdays), at 10am. This regular segment, called Ask the Mayor, provides an opportunity for New York City residents to speak directly with the Mayor and to ask pressing questions.
If you are a parent who has been affected by the unacceptable delays in tuition settlements, why not ask the Mayor directly about his broken 2014 promise to streamline the settlement process? (If you need a refresher on the background of this, see our letter to the Education Committee Chair of the NYC Council from October.)
You can ask your question on-air by calling (212) 433-WNYC (9692) on Fridays (or sometimes on Wednesdays) at 10am. You can follow @BrianLehrer on Twitter for announcements of when the Mayor is on-air.
If you are unable to call-in, you can always submit your question in advance via Twitter to @BrianLehrer using the #AskTheMayor hashtag.
While we will continue to be your squeaky wheel with the Department of Education, your advocacy is still needed to make sure the Mayor is aware of these ongoing delays and the impact they are having on hard-working New Yorkers and their special needs children.
Conference on the Role of the Neuropsychologist in Special Education Advocacy a Huge Success
photo by Will Meyer
On Friday, December 2nd, Skyer Law and Greenberg Traurig, L.L.P. co-sponsored The Role of the Neuropsychologist in Special Education Advocacy and Litigation, a professional CLE conference held in Manhattan.
It was a huge success. Over 75 special education attorneys, clinical professionals, and highly regarded neuropsychologists attended. Not only was it an exciting learning opportunity for professionals working on behalf of children with special education, but it also provided our offices with an opportunity to focus on giving back to our professional community.
The first panel was led by neuropsychologists who gave a helpful overview of the usefulness of a comprehensive neuropsychological report when it comes to assessing and fully understanding (and planning for) a child's special education needs.
At the second panel, we heard from three esteemed Impartial Hearing Officers about how independent educational evaluations impact their consideration of special education cases.
Then, Skyer Law attorneys Will Meyer and Abbie Smith led a conversation about how to help families secure high quality evaluations when they do not have the resources to privately fund them. This portion of the conference focused on a specific legal mechanism through which a school district can be compelled to pay for testing when a parent disagrees with the DOE’s evaluations of their child.
It was truly amazing to have this forum to share ideas and to brainstorm ways to help families with special needs children. The feedback we have received from those who participated was so overwhelmingly positive that we are already planning next year’s conference—and will be opening up attendance to parents. So save the date for December 1, 2017!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success.
Opposition to Jeff Sessions’ Nomination for AG
Frequent readers of our blog know that we proudly support the work of the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA). COPAA is an independent organization with over 1700 members nationwide who are special education attorneys, advocates, parents, and related professionals. Anyone who wants to make a difference in special education policy should consider joining. COPAA advocates for the legal and civil rights of the approximately 6.4 million schoolchildren with disabilities across the nation at every level of government.
On December 1st, the Leadership Council on Human Rights, of which COPAA is a member, sent a letter to leadership in the United States Senate, opposing President-elect Trump’s nomination of Jeff Sessions for U.S. Attorney General.
We ask you to review this letter, paying particular attention to the section “Rights of People with Disabilities” on page 3, which has relevance to our clients, and then decide if you wish to take action yourself. You can do this by reaching out to your United States Senators and also by asking friends and family to do the same.
Contact information for New York’s two U.S. Senators is below:
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
Click here for the email contact form for Senator Schumer
United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
478 Russell
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4451
Fax: (202) 228-0282
Click here for the email contact form for Senator Gillibrand