SL 1024 Education - FINAL - R2_Dept 10 / 30 / 24 3 : 34 PM Page 1 load and graduation timelines . Such flexibility e benefitsnot only learners with unique needs , E D U C A T I O N but also those with demanding schedules due to work and other commitments . “ We cater to people who have various needs and want to take classes online , in the evening , or start slower with one or two courses at a time while they work full - time and maybe take a larger course load later Finding on , ” Deasy adds . “ I think with the right guid - ance , students can go at their own pace . ” One issue that can confuse some parents and students with disabilities who are on the Their Way collegetrack is how an individualized education program ( IEP ) from high school factors into a student’s higher education . On - campus programs and opportunities help all “ All colleges approach the IEP differ - ently , ” Deasy says . “ At BCCC , we want to students , including those with autism and other use it to see the big picture and to under - disabilities , thrive in college . B Y D E B R A W A L L A C E standwhat accommodations are needed . If the IEP includes information on the specific he world has changed quite a bit in the past 10 years . Back then , graduating high diagnosis , it may be enough , or the college Tschool students with autism or other disabilities had a difficult time not only mayneed more details . The IEP is reviewed getting accepted into two - and four - year colleges , but also doing well once they got on a case - by - case basis and helps us get a there . holistic picture of the student’s educa - Thanks to colleges ’ offices of disability services , increased campus support , and on - tional history . ” campus programs , the process has since gotten much smoother and more accessible . Many of these students are thriving as a result . Kelly Deasy , the director of disability services Learning to Fly for Bucks County Community College , believes it is part of an effort on campuses to create Eventhough a student may have had an IEP a culture of belonging for all . or a 504 plan ( an agreement between a “ Campuses , especially be - familyand a school regarding accommodations cause of COVID , have identified for a child with a medical or psychiatric con - accessibility issues and have be - dition ) in the K - through - 12 system , Chavonne come more aware of the support Campbellsays the student will not automati - that is needed for a diverse learn - cally receive accommodations in college . ing population , ” she says . “ Also , “ It is the student’s choice to receive those the stigma around disability may accommodations , ” says Campbell , the student be decreasing a bit because we disabilityresource coordinator for Penn State all can identify with barriers in Abington . For a student ages 18 and older , our systems and environment . ” parents no longer have the legal right to The longtime college ad - speakon behalf of students nor sign students ministrator has advice for stu - up for services ; that burden falls on an adult dents and parents who feel over - student'sshoulders . whelmed with the daunting col - “ It is being more accepted that students lege admissions process : Do not with autism and other disabilities consider give up hope . college as an option as part of their career “ Our office helps each student goaland path , ” Campbell adds . “ To that end , with a documented disability de - for these students to be successful , accom - termine what accommodations modations were implemented so that the are reasonable , ” she adds . “ We students with disabilities as a whole are able are advocates and are committed to thrive . to helping students find their way “ Whatstands out for Penn State Abington and succeed . ” in terms of supports , ” she continues , “ is that Deasy sees it as a college - our students are integrated with our neu - wide responsibility to provide ac - rotypicalstudents . ” cess to students with special Her best advice , especially for students needs . The leaders of other local and parents who feel overwhelmed by the and regional institutions of higher process : Contact a school’s disability office learning seem to agree , as edu - earlyinto the process “ so that an explanation cation seems to be trending to - of how the accommodation process works ward more flexibility in course andthe reality of what accommodations look SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2 12 |