Freshman and Sophomore Years
- Attend your IEP meetings. Ask questions at the meetings when you don’t understand something.
- Work your way up to leading your IEP meetings.
- Review your current IEP with parents and teachers so you fully understand it.
- List things you would like to do after high school.
- Identify courses you need for graduation and college admissions.
- Identify courses to help you succeed in college. Include those courses in your IEP.
- Identify your social, interpersonal, communication, and independent-living skills.
- Identify areas where you need to be more skilled.
- Talk to parents and teachers about how to increase your skills where needed.
- Explore career options with guidance counselors, teachers and parents.
- Learn all you can about your disability and how it affects your learning.
- Participate in extracurricular, community, and volunteer activities.
- Register for the Pre-SAT or Pre-ACT tests. Ask for accommodations if you need them.
- Make a list of colleges you might like to attend.
- Contact the regional Vocational Rehabilitation office to find out whether you are eligible for services.
- Visit three to five college campuses with your parents.
- Meet with Admissions, Financial Aid and Disability Support Services offices.
- Review with parents, teachers, and counselors how each college meets your goals.
- Register, prepare for, and take the ACT or SAT. Ask for accommodations if you need them.
- Apply to your colleges of choice for admission and financial aid.
- Ask teachers, counselors, and employers for letters of recommendation.
- If you’re going to disclose your disability to the college, submit documentation to the campus Disability Support Services office.
- Continue to visit college campuses with your parents. Check buildings and classrooms for accessibility, if necessary. Check into accessible transportation and housing if you need them.
