Differences Between High School & College Accessibility

An important issue for potential and current college students with disabilities is to understand the differences between disability rights laws in high school and college. In college, responsibility is placed on the student.

High School	College
Applicable Laws IDEA Section 504	Applicable Laws ADA Section 504
Required Documentation IEP or 504 Plan The school provides evaluation at no cost to the student The school conducts evaluations at prescribed intervals	Required Documentation Varies depending on the disability IEP and 504 plans are not sufficient - documentation must include testing on which the accommodations are based Students must be evaluated at their own expense
The Student's Role The student is identified and supported by parents and teachers The primary responsibility for accommodations belongs to the school The decision to receive accommodations is made by educators and parents – the student has little input	The Student's Role Self-identify and request services Provide recent documentation of disability Documentation must support accommodations Student is primarily responsible for accommodations
The Parent's Role The parent has access to the student's records and participates in the accommodation process The parent advocates for the student	The Parent's Role Does not have access to student records unless the student provides written consent (FERPA) Student advocates for self