Session 905: Transition to Community College Gaeir Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges

Community Colleges  113 (or so) Community Colleges in California  Two-year degrees (AA/AS)  Eventually a few vocational BA degrees  Transfer to four-year colleges  Vocational programs  Enrichment

Why Community College?  Still in the community  Time to mature  Remedial / basic skills classes provided  Compared to four-year schools –Generally more services –More supportive environment –Slower pace –Instructors more available –Classes often smaller

Disabled Services  Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS or DSS) –Registration help –Counselors –Disability specialists –Advocacy  Alternate media specialists  High tech centers (AT computer labs)

High Tech Centers (AT Labs)  Instruction in assistive technology –JAWS/NVDA –ZoomText –Kurzweil 1000/Kurzweil 3000 –Dragon NaturallySpeaking –Mobile technology  Technology available –Internet access –CCTV –Large monitors

Alternate Media  E-text  Braille  Large print  MP3  Sometimes DAISY / mobile solutions  It’s good to be able to use as many of them as you can!

Other Services  Test proctoring  Assistance in hiring readers  Notetakers / notetaking strategies  Tutors  Learning assistance  On-campus transportation  Adaptive PE

The Services Are There, BUT  How do students access them? –Sign up with disabled services –You must take the initiative! –Assistance is no longer automatic—you must ask  First steps –Intake session with a counselor –Provide documentation

DSPS Counselors  Counselor’s main focus is campus- related issues –They will vary in how well informed they are about VI students’ needs  Counselors can help with academic information, but they won’t know what works best for you!

Meeting with a Counselor  Make an appointment early –A year ahead of when you plan to attend  Be prepared to… –Talk about goals Academic goals Career goals Life goals –Listen to suggestions –Sign forms as an adult (if you are 18)

Ask About  Financial aid  Transportation  Orientation and mobility  Requesting alternate media  Availability of assistive technology  What other services are available

Find Out How the Campus Can Help  Not all campuses are the same!  Not all disability service offices are the same.  You need to ask about services and decide if that campus will work for you.

What Are My Rights  Campuses must provide accommodations; however, some do it better than others!  Check the AHEAD website for more information: –

Where did my VI teacher go?  Very few trained VI specialists at the college level  O&M will generally be through the former school district or Dept of Rehab  This may be the first time there is a blind student on campus  Rare that anyone “speaks your language”

Becoming an Adult  Self-advocacy –Ask questions. –Talk to teachers. –Talk to other students.  Self-responsibility –Staff will assist, not prompt.  Teach others to help you –Sighted guide –Directions

FERPA  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)  At 18, or upon entering college, rights formerly given to parents transfer to student  Affects… –Personal information, education records, conversations with faculty and counselors

What FERPA Means  If you want your parents to be able to ask for information about you, YOU must sign a form allowing campus to release that information  It is your choice!  But remember, if you suddenly need parents to have information, we cannot give it without the release form

Survival Tips  Dept. of Rehab –Sign up early! At least by junior year of HS! –Check with DOR, many offices now accepting referrals at age 14  “Blindness skills”  O&M field trip to campus  Keyboarding skills  Computer skills

Think about; Talk about  Classroom strategies –How do you take notes? –How do you get information off the board?  Study strategies –What book formats work best? –Can you use tactile graphics?  Utilizing technology –Being able to use multiple tools is a plus! –Using free tools in a pinch is a survival plus!

Picking Your Classes  Choose a balanced schedule and pace yourself!  If math and science are hard for you, take one per term –Balance harder classes with ones easier for you  Choose easier classes the first term –A lot is new, ease into the experience!

Readers Are Not Found on Trees  Students will need to be involved in hiring readers.  Devise a reading test.  Learn to be a manager. –Make expectations clear. –Be aware of potential problems. Other students have finals, too!  You are now a supervisor and personnel manager.

Books Aren’t Found on Trees, Either!  College students buy their books –Work with Dept of Rehab  Be prepared for a much higher volume of reading –Have strategies: When can you use audio? When do you need braille or large print? Can you navigate with DAISY? –Don’t be shy to request what you need Multiple formats are okay.

There Is No Book Fairy  Learn to ask questions –Talk to the instructor –Talk to the bookstore –Request alternate formats early from DSS  Work with the service providers –Math, science, and music will take longer  The organized, responsible student will receive the best services.

Must Haves  Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) membership –Please note: CCC grant has provided institutional membership to all CCC colleges –Personal memberships still good to have— check with Dept of Rehab for funding  Bookshare membership –Free to all students!

Finding Accessible Textbooks  Learning Ally  Bookshare  Sometimes Amazon has recorded books  Audible.com for novels  Access Text Network’s Accessible Textbook Finder –

Other Book Options  Both Bookshare and Learning Ally will create alternate formats –Need individual membership  Purchase the book and send for processing. –Caveat: Can take months to produce

Reading Success in College  Learn to use tools that facilitate reading –Assistive technology, mobile devices –Different formats for different subjects  Learn to advocate for yourself –Know what works –Know what doesn’t work –Work with service providers, and also speak up! 27

28 Fit College to You!  Know yourself and your disability. –Be able to talk about yourself and your needs!  Try out different technologies.  Read for fun to see what works best.  Learn what works well for your individual learning style—and be able to talk about it.

Life beyond High School  Watch for campus outreach programs  Attend events with other students, O&M instructor, family  Visit the disabled services offices  Parents and VI teachers…Help with the transition so that students can soar free on their own!

Feel Free to Contact Us!  Gaeir (rhymes with “fire”) Dietrich HTCTU Director