In 2023, I launched an online, self-paced course: Preparing Students with Physical Disabilities and Health Conditions for College. The goal of the course is to equip care providers (parents/guardians, educators, counselors, and healthcare providers) with information and practical strategies so that they can support their students and clients in planning and preparing for the transition to college.
To date, the program has supported over 55 students who range from high school students who are considering college, to adults who are returning to college to re-tool or get advanced degrees. The students I have supported through this partnership have a wide range of physical disabilities including spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, and more. I work with these students 1 on 1 to provide individualized support and assistance to help them think through their needs holistically, develop essential self-advocacy skills, and understand how colleges may provide reasonable accommodations for them.
There is very little information focused on transitioning to college with a physical disability. This got me thinking about all the care providers that students interact with such as school counselors, healthcare providers, parents, and educators.
I asked myself: “How can we get these care providers better positioned to support their students with physical disabilities with the transition to college?”