If you have a child or student with special needs, you may be wondering what kinds of post-secondary education options are available to them. The good news is that colleges and universities all over the world are increasingly developing programs to accommodate students with special needs—everything from autism and ADHD to chronic illnesses.
One of the most important decisions a person can make is deciding where to go to college. For some, it’s a choice between state or private colleges, or between schools of varying academic prestige. For those with special needs, this decision is even more complicated: how much support will they receive. Will they be able to navigate the physical campus? How will they perform academically in comparison to their peers.
These days, it’s more common than ever to see special needs students in higher education institutions. Once upon a time, only a handful of colleges offered programming for special needs students; now, there are thousands of programs across the country. And the students who go through these programs are some of the most determined, creative people you’ll ever meet.
So what does it take to be accepted into one of these programs? Many factors will come into play when determining whether you’re accepted into a special needs program: what kind of high school you attended; your SAT scores; your GPA; how involved you were in extracurricular activities and clubs; and sometimes even how many volunteer hours you clocked per week.
Additionally, when reviewing applications from special needs students, admissions counselors will look at your particular strengths and weaknesses, as well as certain social skills that have been proven to help people with your diagnosis become successful in college. While each program considers different criteria when making admissions decisions, having an impressive resume and an engaging personality are two things that are universal in the world of college admissions.
A college education is a big step for anyone. But it can be an even bigger challenge for students with special needs. From physical disabilities to learning impairments, many students have struggled to find the right match when it comes to higher education. Fortunately, not every college is the same! There are plenty of colleges that offer programs to help these special students thrive.
If you have a learning disability, or ADHD, or an anxiety disorder, or any other kind of special need that requires special accommodations, it can be hard to know where to start when deciding on schools. But don’t worry—you’re not alone.
A lot of colleges have resources in place to help students with special needs thrive in their programs and get the help they need. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of colleges and universities that offer special services for students with unique needs in all 50 states. Just click through to your state and find the right school for you.
Find out about different programs of study. Think about what kind of education you want—do you want to be in a larger city? A smaller town? Do you like being on the water, or are you more of an inland person? What kind of major do you want? Are there particular classes that really interest you? Make sure that wherever you go, they offer your major or at least something similar.
Consider if the school has any services that would be helpful to your needs. Are there special-needs departments on campus, such as counseling centers or tutoring/study support? Do they have health services to manage conditions such as epilepsy or seizures.
The schools are designed to support students with intellectual disabilities and help them achieve their academic goals. We believe in the importance of offering a variety of supports, both in and out of the classroom, as well as helping students gain experience living on their own. We recognize that all students are different, so we aim to provide many different kinds of support for them, including sensory rooms, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The staff is trained to be able to address the unique needs of each student and provide assistance when needed. We hope you’ll come check out our schools.