Getting Them Ready for Take Off!

Sometimes we are so busy trying to help our teens graduate from high school, that the thought of whether or not they will attend college, seems like the last thing on your mind, let alone how to prepare them so they can get what they need to succeed.

We will highlight a presentation by Terry Maitland, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, author of Ready for Take Off (2010), and On Your Own (2011), on preparing teens for the transition to college.

We will also watch a video of college students with ADHD /LD, being interviewed, about what surprised them about college, and what would have helped them know what to expect and how to plan.

• What can we ask Student Services departments that would help us understand the differences between the help available in college vs. high school?

• What accommodations are allowed, and not allowed?

• What if your child doesn’t want to disclose that they have a disability?  Is there a time limit?

• Can they get help in college if they didn’t qualify for special education or a 504 Plan in high school?

• What kind of documentation is needed, and from what kind of professional?

• Is there a way for a parent to know their child’s grades or if their child is even attending class?

• Can they get their meds prescribed at a college health clinic?

• How long does it typically take someone to graduate, if they have AD/HD?

• Are there tutors or coaches available, knowledgeable in helping students with disabilities?  If so, how are they paid?

• What if a student has their own tutor, that their parent is paying for?  Does this interfere with utilization rates of the college’s existing support staff?

• What services does the college provide?