Christine Gray

People pursue a college degree for many different reasons. If you’re a person with a disability and have the opportunity, it’s more important for you to pursue a college education than you might realize. This article is going to explore the many benefits you gain from going to college if you are a student with a disability.

The idea of going to college as a student with a disability can be both exciting and scary. It’s a time in your life where you’ll have the chance to explore your interests, meet new people and begin to make a mark on the world around you. During high school, you start to learn how to be independent, but going to college helps you see the range of possibilities available to help make that a reality. Once you graduate, you can spread your wings even more. Maybe it’s the first time you are living away from home. Maybe it’s the first time you are navigating life with your limitations, whatever they may be. Going to college gives you the chance to learn how to navigate different scenarios in life so that you can have the most fulfilling experiences possible.

Education expands the number of opportunities for people with disabilities. It allows you to grow your network of connections for your career and personal interests. The college experience gives you the educational background you need to be competitively employed in the future. It also gives you an idea of how to begin to advocate you for yourself and gives you an opportunity to learn how to become more independent. You have the chance to become familiar with all the available resources you could use to increase your independence once you finish college and move to the next stage of life.

Even before you leave high school, you probably participated in your IEP meetings. During these meetings, decisions are made on the accommodations needed to help you be successful in the classroom. These meetings allow you to learn useful techniques on setting attainable goals for your future. It’s great practice for you to see what steps are necessary to set and achieve realistic goals. It also gives you a chance to learn about services, modifications and accommodations available to be more independent in life. This will help you when you go to college and have to ask for the same accommodations. You will already be armed with a basic idea of best practices on how to request services from the disability office or other areas of the college that are there to help you.

Advocacy is a key component to maximizing the options available to you when living with a disability. Advocacy is an effective way to get what you need and speak up about what is important to you. Learning how to advocate and deciding what issues are important to you will begin to make itself known as you go through college. If you want to get involved in the disability field or any other social cause that is important to you, the time you spend in college can help you figure out what is most important to you. There are many issues to pick from where advocating can make a difference. Research each one and decide which ones you believe you would like to pursue. Everyone can spark positive change when they advocate for issues that are important to them.

Immersing yourself in a college setting gives you an opportunity to learn about different disabilities and learn how to get yourself the accommodations you may need for school. Whether it’s a note taker, or extra time, there is an accommodation that will help you fully achieve your goals you set for yourself as a college student.

Any student disability services office located on a college campus can be a key ingredient to your academic success. They will have procedures that need to be followed to get the accommodations and other assistance you need to be successful in college. Becoming familiar with how to utilize their services and the types of support they can offer will reduce a lot of stress.

A college experience gives you the education you need to reach your career goals. College prepares you with the skills you need so that you are job ready when you graduate. If you can, use an agency after college to assist you in your job search. This can make it easier for you to become gainfully employed. Depending on your career choice you may have to take additional steps to go to graduate school.

As a student with a disability, you may find that you need certain modifications or accommodations to live independently. College is the time where you get to experiment with different pieces of technology that can maximize your independence. There are also agencies that can provide funding, resources and equipment to help you figure out what will work best for you. If you have an issue with transportation, college is a great time to have a mobility assessment done to figure out if getting a car is a possibility for you. You can even learn about the adaptive equipment you might need so that you can drive. Services like ride share, paratransit, or public transportation may help you increase your independence too.

Many people have fond memories of being in college because of the fraternity or sorority experience they choose to have. Even if you don’t choose to be in one of those, the college experience allows you social interaction with other students.

During your college career, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds. This allows you to gain a different perspective on different customs and also helps you increase your cultural awareness. This is important to help you become a more well-rounded individual. You can also help someone learn more about diversity and inclusion. You can give them the opportunity to learn about you as a person with a disability. In college you will also have an opportunity to be in social settings that you may not otherwise experience. This allows you to grow as a person and learn about yourself and how to function in relationships.

In conclusion, getting a college education has many benefits for anyone who chooses to journey down that path. For a person with a disability, pursuing an education after high school and learning the ropes of what it is to be independent will be invaluable to you. Maybe it will help you decide what career path to pursue. Maybe you will find out more about yourself as a human being and learn what’s important to you as far as your interests separate from educational goals. I highly recommend you embark on the adventure a college experience can offer. It will pay you dividends for years to years to come.