Raising a Successful College Graduate - For Parents of Special Needs Children

Children with special needs have experiencedsuccessful adults who are rich sources of
more frustration and academic failure than mostinformation about the nature of their careers, the
other children. Yet, some of them becometraining they completed, and the strategies they
successful college students who graduate with ause to be successful. Family friends, teachers,
specialty in a chosen field.coaches, and neighbors are valuable allies to a
Sadly, most do not. Only about 57 percent ofstudent who is eager to learn about the kinds of
students with disabilities graduate from highopportunities available to them as adults.
school, and only about 10 to 15 percent of thoseStudents should explore the world of work
graduating attend college.through paid jobs, internships, and volunteering.
What are some reasons students succeed inThey will learn about the working conditions of
college? How can parents help their child bespecific jobs, develop the perseverance needed
among those who accomplish this challengingto commit to a challenging endeavor, and learn
undertaking?valuable interpersonal skills such as cooperation
Parental expectations are a key factorand functioning within an environment that
Children who are raised with the belief that theyrequires meeting high expectations.
have the skills to be successful at the college ofIt is necessary for students to take a proactive
their choice, if they desire to pursue a collegerole in their school careers. They should learn how
education, have a great advantage! They prepareto communicate their strengths and needs to
all of their lives for the experience of college. Alladults. They should attend their IEP meetings and
through their school years they make powerfuladvocate on their own behalf.
decisions that lay the foundation for collegeTransition planning
success.Students who qualify under the Individuals with
Students who believe they will be successfulDisabilities Education Act are entitled to receive
college students study more, they have highersupport services that help them make a transition
grades, and they seek the guidance of mentorsfrom high school to postsecondary activities.
who can guide them to develop strong skills. TheyThese services may include coursework, related
"play full out" in school, taking challenging classesservices, community experiences, development of
and honing their academic skills.results-oriented employment and/or adult living
The type of mentoring children receive from theirobjectives in their IEPs, and a functional living skills
parents is the genesis of the personal copingassessment, when warranted.
beliefs and habits that ensure college success.Beginning when the student is 14 years of age,
Parents lay the foundation of academicthe IEP team must consider services that are
achievement from the moment their child is born.designed to facilitate the student's transition to
Parents who mentor and support their child alladult living. At the age of 16, the IEP team is
through their lives to believe in their innaterequired to include results-oriented objectives,
intelligence and skill encourage the kind of decisionsmatched to a student's postsecondary goals, that
good students face every day as they pursueprovide support to transition to adult living.
their path through the huge array of facts,Parents should work with their school's special
procedures, skills and habits that support theeducation coordinator to determine the range of
ultimate acquisition of academic literacy.services available, and express their opinions about
When mentored to know he or she will beservices and experiences they would like to have
successful, a student develops personal attributesprovided for their child.
that support success. Research by the FrostigSummary of performance
Center in Pasadena, California provides someStudents who are eligible to receive special
insight into these qualities.education services are legally entitled to receive a
Personal qualities that support academic successSummary of Performance (SOP) during their final
Students who have the following personal qualitiesyear in high school. The school district is required
are much more likely to thrive in college. You canby federal law (Individual with Disabilities Education
read more detailed descriptions of the qualitiesAct of 2004) to provide to high school seniors
that insure college success here.who will be graduating with a regular diploma, a
• Self-awareness and self-acceptancesummary of their academic achievement and
• Proactivity as opposed to reactivityfunctional performance. This information will be
• Perseveranceused by colleges as a basis to determine
• Skill in setting short and long-range goalsaccommodations granted to a student.
• Use of effective support systemsThe school district may use their own format to
• Strong emotional coping strategiesdocument a student's strengths and needs. It is
Taking specific action increases the likelihood ofvery advantageous to a parent to have a
succeeding in collegetemplate that illustrates the kind of information a
Students need to be aware of specific actioncomplete SOP should contain. It is advantageous
steps they should take to increase the probabilityto have a history of specific accommodations
they will be admitted to and graduate from thethat were provided in high school and to include
college of their choice.these in the SOP. Parents can download a copy
Ideally, parents and children should begin to takeprepared by a national coalition of disability rights
specific action steps by the time the studentorganizations here.
reaches 8th grade. For the student, this involvesOnly a small percentage of students with special
taking the most challenging classes available, whilelearning needs attend college, but parents have
maintaining strong grades and a great attitudethe opportunity to insure that their child is one of
toward academics. Completing extra or optionalthe successful ones. The most valuable step
assignments in classes to stretch his or herparents can take is to mentor their child to
knowledge, and pursuing activities about which thebelieve in their intelligence and talents and know in
student is passionate such as sports, artistic, andtheir heart they can meet the challenge of
or volunteer experiences builds theobtaining a college education. This belief supports
self-confidence, proactive mindset and timethe effective action steps that parents and
management skills that characterize highlystudents take throughout their school career to
successful students.ensure a college diploma.
Parents should encourage their child to learn from