What is the school counselor’s responsibility in the transition planning process?

School counselors can steer a student to the most productive sources of information. Career goals should guide the research into education or training programs. For instance, many states’ Labor Departments, as well as the federal Department of Labor, offer online search options that direct the user to information about key occupational areas based on interest inventory results. This information typically lists the colleges or other organizations that offer training, licensure, or degree programs in the area of interest. Additional research on potential programs can be conducted at high school and public libraries, which offer catalogs from area colleges and other post-secondary schools. IEP team members can help the student think through the best options.

A number of guides exist for students with disabilities that offer some direction regarding the availability of disability services at various education and training programs across the United States. While these guides are helpful starting points, changes occur frequently. Therefore, the student in transition should ask many questions of any college to get the most up-to-date information.

College catalogs will describe application requirements, which often include a nationally available examination such as the ACT or SAT. Students with documented disabilities are eligible for certain accommodations, depending on their eligibility category and the accommodations they are currently receiving. School counselors should be aware that accommodations must be arranged with the testing company many months in advance. Students may benefit from taking tests such as the PSAT when offered to gain additional practice with the test-taking conditions.

The Websites for the ACT and SAT can be found on Page 13: References and Additional Resources.

School counselors can help students and their families obtain information regarding the application process, admissions requirements, and financial aid opportunities and procedures. Much of this information is at a school counselor’s fingertips, thus saving a great deal of time for college-bound students. Some high schools arrange for annual college fairs, which allow students to meet with college recruiters firsthand. School counselors are often involved in the planning of these fairs. Finally, school counselors may be able to help youth with disabilities to think about particular issues regarding financial aid and enrollment. For example: Certain state financial aid funding options consider a student with a disability to be a family of one and thus able to meet income eligibility criteria. In addition, some states and colleges do not require undergraduate students with disabilities to enroll in a minimum of 12 hours to qualify for financial aid.

Students with disabilities may need some guidance or assistance to complete their applications appropriately, particularly if the procedures or language are unfamiliar. School counselors could be helpful by reviewing the youth’s application prior to submission and by suggesting minimum and maximum numbers of college applications that juniors and seniors typically submit, with rationales for those numbers.

A representative from the support services program of any nearby colleges or universities to which the student has applied can be invited to the IEP meeting sometime during the senior year (or end of the junior year). While few disability services staff can attend IEP meetings, this invitation initiates communication and provides the opportunity to forward required diagnostic evaluation reports to the appropriate department. More distant service representatives can request those documents from the school, with the student’s or a parent’s permission (depending on age). Once those documents have been requested, the student should make an appointment on campus to meet with the service office representative to outline the necessary accommodations and how they will occur. School counselors or other IEP team members can prepare the student prior to the meeting by discussing his or her current accommodations and supports and determining which ones to request in higher education. At the college campus, the disability services representative will reach consensus with the student regarding the services and accommodations to be used.

Some post-secondary schools have their own entrance examinations. These exams may be used more as a placement tool for particular course levels rather than for admission purposes. They are typically administered during the student’s senior year so that admission and course planning can occur. School counselors should be familiar with the exams in their region or state so that they can advise youth and families on issues to consider.

In addition to carrying out the six steps above that are required for college admission, students should make explicit efforts to practice skills that will promote their autonomy and independence. Preparation for the upcoming year, which will hold many new and different experiences, is essential to long-term success. Scheduling, organization, and some independent living skills (e.g., doing one’s own laundry, maintaining a healthy diet, setting aside study time) contribute to a student’s ability to cope when living away from home. Another way for students to become more independent is to organize all their financial, medical, and educational information (in print or digital formats) for easy access.