Disability Support Services - A Message to Parents

Disability Support Services understand parents of students with disabilities may have more concerns than parents of typical college students. You are probably accustomed to playing an active part in your student's education. The changes in services and responsibility at the college level often take parents and students by surprise. High schools don't always prepare families for the differences they face when enrolling in college. We hope the information on our website helps provide the information you need to better understand post-secondary disability services so you can continue to support your student at this level.

In college, the service model changes dramatically. IEPs and 504 Plans do not exist at the college level. There is no equivalent to the team approach to which you are likely accustomed. Disability Support Services, college faculty, and GRCC staff are not responsible for identifying students with disabilities and connecting them with Disability Support Services. Students must identify themselves to the office, provide documentation of disability, and request accommodations. A college student is an adult in the eyes of the law and is the only one who can initiate the accommodation process. Please encourage your student to apply and then allow the student to take on the responsibility.

It can be very difficult to accept this new role, especially if you are concerned that your student might not initiate or follow through with the process. It is true that being proactive and accepting personal responsibility are keys to college success. Social skills and awareness are also important. After college, your student will have to articulate the nature of his or her disability and assert the right to accommodations in the workplace. For legal, practical, and developmental reasons now is the time for your student to accept this responsibility and begin to self-advocate.

As parents, you have helped your student get to this educational goal of college enrollment. Congratulations! Your role is still crucially important, but it is different at the college level. We hope that becoming familiar with services and procedures at GRCC will reduce anxiety, help students pursue accommodations, and assist them in gathering necessary materials for a smooth transition to college.

You can help your student by:

• Looking at the Disability Support Services website together
• Making sure your student understands his or her diagnosis and is able to explain the diagnosis
• Encouraging your student to contact DSS soon after admission to GRCC
• Going over your student's documentation to make certain it is current and complete
• Asking your student to contact DSS with questions or for clarification

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Updated on 22-DEC-08
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