Locating a School for Your
Special-Needs Student

by Caroline Simms

An appropriate learning environment may not exist at the public school. Other options include parochial, private, and, in some cases, specialized high schools for students with learning differences. Visit all kinds of high schools when the student is in the seventh and eighth grades and decide which one makes sense. In order to qualify for services at any public and most private schools, a student must have an up-to-date multi-factored evaluation. Scheduling testing and finalizing an appropriate I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) should be done, preferably by the end of eighth grade. Most schools will not provide services without current testing to document the disability.

Before the student starts his freshman year, parents should be aware of the course requirements for high school graduation and admission to college. Former Governor Taft instituted a new, more rigorous set of high-school graduation standards for Ohio. Amy Gilman, Executive Director of Special Education Services in Euclid says,"You have to plan transition from the time your child enters high school. If he doesn’t take the proper course work in high school, he may not get into the college he wants. If you wait until your child is a senior, you may find that he doesn’t have post-secondary options."

During sophomore year all students will take the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT), a requirement for graduation from high school, and some the PSAT, a practice test for the SAT. Most students with a learning disability qualify, at least, for extended time on standardized tests. Yet, the student’s learning disability must be documented in the I.E.P. in order to receive accommodations. Jan, a resident of Solon and the mother of three teen-age daughters advises, "You must have updated documentation to receive accommodations for the ACT and SAT. A special application is required. Allow six to eight weeks lead time for the paperwork, and be on top of it at the beginning of sophomore year!"

High school isn’t just about taking tests and preparing for college. All students should engage in outside activities that they enjoy, not only for their self-esteem but also to become more well-rounded individuals. Colleges aren’t looking for the academic grinds but for students who have an active social life and interests beyond the realm of school.

"Encourage an interest or a passion," says Brett, mother of two daughters and a resident of Aurora in Portage County. "Extra-curricular activities or work experience bring out social skills that might be dormant."

By junior year the college search becomes one of the dominant themes. Jan bought a directory that specialized in colleges for students with learning differences. Since she knew that her twin daughters needed structured programs and that she wanted them to be close to home, she was able to pinpoint four or five colleges that fitted the bill. For structured programs, Jan says,

"The student applies not only to the college but also to the program. Additional reference letters are required. Structured programs are a lot more expensive."

Charges for one-on-one tutoring and other special services may be an additional $5,000 or more per year. Many colleges do offer academic scholarships and financial aid.

Brett went on a road trip the summer before her older daughter entered her junior year. She wanted her daughters to have a feel for colleges of all sizes in many different settings. They looked at colleges catering only to students with learning differences to those that offered relatively few services. She says, "Visit the campuses. Ask all the tough questions about learning centers. How are they staffed?"

In order to receive services at the college level, students have to provide documentation of the disability once again. Brett suggests that testing be done again sometime during the junior year or at the beginning of senior year. Jan hopes that "my daughters can advocate for themselves. It’s a big step. The college professors aren’t going to come to them. They’ll have to plug into the system and advocate for themselves."

Visiting the campus and having a personal interview are a must! Consider the graduation requirements for each college. If it requires one year of a foreign language and the student has a language-based disability, the college shouldn’t be a consideration.

Is the college open to different learning styles? Joan Pfeffert, director of college guidance at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, says,"It takes more time to find the right college for the LD student. Schools can provide services, but not all teachers are supportive. There are those who get it, and there are those who don’t."

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Finding the right college for the student with special needs requires patience, ample time for research, and persistence. Parents need to ask themselves some very direct questions:

Thoughts on college should begin before high school.