Preparing for College with an IEP or 504 Plan

No. IEPs come from a law called IDEA, which covers students only through high school or until your child ages out of special education. Once your teen starts college, IEPs no longer apply. Colleges instead support students through accommodations under the ADA and Section 504. Our guide explains exactly what this means and how to prepare.

Not directly. A high school 504 Plan doesn't automatically carry over, but the good news is that Section 504 and the ADA still protect your teen in college. They'll need to request accommodations through the college's disability services office. Our guide walks you through how to do this.

When your teen graduates, is no longer eligible, or ages out of special education, their IEP ends. College is a new system where students must self-identify as having a disability and request accommodations on their own. This is a big shift, and our guide helps your teen get ready for it before they go.

Your teen contacts the college's disability services office, shares documentation of their disability, and requests specific accommodations. Unlike high school, the student, not the parent, drives this process. Our guide includes worksheets and checklists to help them prepare.

It's the department at a college that arranges accommodations for students with disabilities, like extended test time, note-taking support, or accessible housing. Every college has one, though the name varies. Our guide explains how to find and work with it.

Common college accommodations include extended time on exams, a quiet testing space, note-taking help, recorded lectures, and priority registration. What's available depends on the documentation and the college. Our guide helps your teen understand and ask for what fits their needs.

In high school, the school is responsible for finding and helping students with disabilities. In college, the student must step forward, disclose their disability, and request support themselves. It's a move from being supported to self-advocating. Our guide prepares your teen to make that shift with confidence.

Preparing for College with an IEP or 504 Plan is a $49.95 digital download. You get ready-to-use fillable worksheets for your teen, a clear explanation of high school vs. college disability support, school and parent checklists, and an overview of the disability laws that apply in college. It's yours to keep.