Choosing a Transfer College:

Students With Special Needs

Accommodations for students with special needs or disabilities are quite common at many colleges. Before you choose a college, however, you might want to ask yourself the following questions.

• How far away from my family do I want to be?
• How independent am I?
• What are my special needs?
• What type of support services will be available to me?
• Who is the contact person at the four-year college?

Keep in Mind:

• Your disability cannot be used to discriminate against you in the admissions process.
• You must seek out the people who will provide the support services that you need. Ask for the Disabled Student Services Office or the Office for Handicapped Students.
• Some specific questions that you might ask are:
  1. Is tutoring available if I have trouble with my classes?
  2. If I need a textbook, tests, handouts put on tapes, how do I make these arrangements?
  3. What assistance is available to me in the library?
  4. Are there elevators in all of the buildings?
  5. What recreational services or extra-curricular activities are available to me?

Be sure to visit the campuses of the college that you have in mind.

Peterson's Guide to Colleges with Programs for Learning Disabled Students is a source of information for students with learning disabilities who want to transfer to a four-year college.

The HEATH Resource Center operates a national clearinghouse on post secondary education for individuals who are physically challenged. HEATH is an acronym for Higher Education and Adult Training for People with Handicaps. The center serves as an information exchange about educational support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, and opportunities on American campuses. Write to:

One Dupont Circle Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20036-1193

For further information, email transfer@mccc.edu, call 609-586-4800 ext. 3375 or see the disabilities counselor in SC 243.

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