The Transition: Differences Between High School and College

The differences between the accommodation process in high school and college can be initially unsettling to those who are used to the secondary school environment. These differences are largely related to the distinct intentions of the laws that govern the provision of accommodations in the post-secondary and secondary settings. Some of these distinctions are detailed below; however, incoming students will find that the major theme behind them is a greater emphasis on personal responsibility and self-advocacy. While this is believed to be an important part of the developmental process for college students, it can lead to difficulties for students who are used to having the bulk of the procedures related to accommodations handled for them.

Major Differences Between High School and College

The Intent of the Law
The following laws govern the accommodation process in the secondary (high school) and postsecondary (college) environment. (Adapted from Oklahoma City College Disability Services Handbook.)

IDEA is a revision of PL 94-142 (Education for all Handicapped Children), which legislated funding for special education services in the least restrictive environments. Both entitle children with disabilities to a free and appropriate education that allows for achievement. This puts the onus on the school system to do several things:

1. identify children with special needs
2. evaluate children to determine needs and whether or not there is a disability
3. plan educational services to allow for achievement

All of these are provided at the school district's expense.

In contrast, the intent of Section 504 and the ADA at the post-secondary level is to ensure equal access to individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to meet the essential demands of the program. Whereas IDEA includes a list of specific disabilities that are eligible for services, 504/ADA defines disabilities in more general terms. Specifically, a disability is defined as a substantial impairment in a major life activity (including learning and working) and the laws protect individuals who are (1) currently substantially limited; (2) have a history of being substantially limited; and (3) who are regarded as substantially limited even though no such limitation exists. These latter two categories primarily relate to the protection of these individuals from discrimination (i.e., you cannot discriminate against someone who has a history of a disability or who you perceive as disabled). In the post-secondary environment, colleges and universities are responsible for providing equal access to students who meet this definition of a disability and protecting them from discrimination. They are NOT responsible for identifying or evaluating students, and the goal of accommodation is to ensure access versus academic success.

Based on these different intentions, there are several concrete differences that can be summarized as follows:

Identification
In the postsecondary environment, it is the students' responsibility to register with the office responsible for providing accommodations and to make specific accommodation requests. Unlike high school, colleges and universities are not responsible for identifying students with disabilities.

Evaluation
Evaluation of students with perceived disabilities is not the responsibility of postsecondary institutions. Students have the responsibility to present documentation of their condition(s) for consideration of accommodations. The evaluations conducted are performed at the student's expense.

Documentation
Postsecondary institutions have the right to ask for current and comprehensive documentation that clearly details (1) the diagnosis; (2) the functional limitations; (3) the need for accommodations. The 504 plan or IEP that was developed in high school may not be sufficient. In addition, the documentation presented must clearly detail a student's substantial limitations. Merely having a diagnosis (e.g., learning disability, ADHD) does not necessitate accommodations. Successful compensation belies a disability according to the definition provided by ADA (Gordon & Keiser, 1998). Similarly, the use of successful mitigating measures (e.g., medication, corrective lenses in the case of a vision impairment) that eliminate the functional impairment means that accommodations are not appropriate. In addition, it is important to note that case law surrounding the ADA has typically revolved around the "average person standard." In other words, learning differences or "relative weaknesses" compared to one's abilities in other areas are not necessarily disabling.

Reasonable Accommodations
It is important to note that the ADA is a civil rights act, and does not necessarily entitle an individual to accommodations. Accommodations are designed to ensure equal access and "level the playing field" versus guarantee academic success. Specific examples of this in the postsecondary environment include building a ramp so that a student in a wheelchair can get into a building, providing an interpreter for a deaf student to allow him/her to understand the material being presented, and giving extra test-taking time to a student with a learning disability to make sure that he/she has sufficient time to read an exam. In contrast, accommodations would not be provided to ensure that a student gets a certain grade on an exam.

Self-Advocacy
In high school, parents and/or guardians are often considered the primary advocates, although ideally students take on a growing responsibility for this role. In college, students must be able to communicate their needs and request services. While parents can certainly voice their concerns about a student, the accommodation request must come from the student.

This article was compiled from several sources including:

Gordon, M., & Keiser, S.L. (Eds.). (1998). Accommodations in higher education under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A no-nonsense guide for clinicians, educators, administrators, and lawyers. New York: Guilford.

McVey, K. (unpublished manuscript). Students with disabilities: The differences in legal rights and responsibilities in secondary and postsecondary education.

Oklahoma Community College Disability Services Handbook (n.d.). Retrieved February 2002 from http://www.okc.cc.ok.us/clong/DisServ/sectionH1.html

The interested reader is referred to these resources for more complete information.

Maintained by: studenthealth@virginia.edu Last Modified: Monday, 07-Nov-2005 11:10:58 EST © 2002 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia