Postsecondary Education for Students with Blindness, Visual Impairment, Deafblindness, or Multiple Disabilities

These resources provide invaluable information, advice, and encouragement for students contemplating college. Most of the sites are specific to the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired, but there is information for those with multiple disabilities or deafblindness as well.

Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Postsecondary Education
HEATH Resource Center
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/files/active/0/postsecondary_blind_or_vi.pdf
This 15-page resource paper is "intended for students who are blind or visually impaired and who wish to pursue education or vocational training beyond high school." It includes a checklist of services that are typically available, information on new technologies, rights and responsibilities, financial aid, transition tips for students and instructors, and selected resources.

Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education and Training: Planning for Life After High School
Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction
http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/tranopndrs.pdf
This 22-page handbook for students, school counselors, teachers, and parents provides an overview of transition to postsecondary education, including information on laws and regulations, planning and preparing, definitions, and resources. It also contains an exploration worksheet for examining choices, selecting, and applying for postsecondary education.

A Guide to a Successful College Experience
American Council of the Blind
http://www.acb.org/resources/student-guide.html
Ardis Bazyn and Sheila Styron share advice, from the student's perspective, on how to make college a successful experience. They cover a range of topics, including Choosing the Right College or University, Using Disabled Student Services, Knowing the Laws that Affect You, Training and Recruiting Readers and Drivers, Working your guide dog on campus, Auxiliary Aids and Services for Students with Disabilities, and Contacting Advocacy Organizations of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

E.X.P.L.O.R.E. The Possibilities! An Approach to Transition
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/toronto2002/transition.htm
This article is drawn from Kimberly Avila's presentation at the 2002 conference of Teachers of the Visually Impaired, and focuses on the transition from high school to college. Based on the findings of her 2001 survey, Avila identifies areas of instruction that are essential to a successful transition.

Transitions—Reflections of a Blind College Student
National Federation of the Blind
http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr12/fr04co04.htm
Ryan Strunk shares his reflections, from a student's perspective, on the transition from high school to college. He begins by advising parents and teachers to hold blind students to the same standards as their sighted peers, and has many specific suggestions for students for increasing independence and self-advocacy, and being active socially.

Voices of Experience: Making the Transition from High School to College
CEC Division on Visual Impairments Quarterly
http://www.cecdvi.org/DVIIQ/2005/2005%20articles.htm
This is the transcript of an interview with three college students, describing their experiences. It includes suggestions for other students, as well as for teachers of the blind and visually impaired.

Transition of Students With Disabilities To Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators
Office of Civil Rights
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html
"The purpose of this guide is to provide high school educators with answers to questions students with disabilities may have as they get ready to move to the postsecondary education environment."

Postsecondary Education
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness
http://www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/lib/topics/single_topic.cfm?topic=Postsecondary%20Education&d_topic=Postsecondary%20Education
NCDB provides links to articles and publications, bibliographies, and internet resources related to postsecondary education for students who are deafblind.