Differences Between High School and College: IDEA vs. ADA
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Secondary School |
Higher Education |
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Education is a right under IDEA and must be provided in an appropriate environment to all individuals. |
Education is not a right. Students must meet admission criteria defined under ADA as "otherwise qualified." |
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School district is responsible to identify a student's disability. |
Students must self-identify. |
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School district provides free testing, evaluation, and transportation to program. |
Student must provide current and appropriate documentation as defined by the college. If documentation from high school is not adequate, student pays for additional testing and transport to program. |
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Transition planning and timelines exist to clarify students' vision, identify programming choices, and coordinate appropriate coursework options. |
Students make all coursework selections. |
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School district develops IEP to define educational supports and services under special education. |
No IEP/special education in college. |
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IEP Team (including student) determines IEP supports and services that will be provided. |
Student is responsible to contact faculty and advocate for services.* |
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Access to general curriculum, necessary modifications, and a variety of appropriate accommodations are available. |
No fundamental alterations to the curriculum are made. Academic accommodations and modifications are available based on student's documented disability. |
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Personal services for medical or physical disability are required. |
No personal services are required. |
ThinkCollege.net. (n.d.) Differences between high school and college: IDEA vs. ADA. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from
http://thinkcollege.net/families/index.php?page=high
I have an IEP/504 Plan. Why isn’t that good enough for college?
An IEP or 504 Plan addresses students' needs in the K-12 educational program. Postsecondary education is a totally different arena. Almost everything about the postsecondary system is different from what the student experienced before. This includes how a college may address your needs for accessing its educational program and the information it needs to accomplish this.
While the IEP or 504 Plan may provide the Center for Access & Success with some of what it will need, additional information may be required.
AHEAD.org. (n.d.) FAQ’s – Parents. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from http://ahead.org/students-parents/parents
Last Updated On: 3/20/09
