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Student Resources

College

A photo of scholars engaging in the Summer Study session.
Transitioning from high school to college includes two phases.

  1. Preparing for college, including testing, securing financial aid, and choosing your postsecondary school.
  2. Succeeding in college, which requires numerous self-management skills.

Preparing for College

The transition from high school to college is a big step for everyone. Students with disabilities have even more things to think about than their nondisabled peers. Preparing for your postsecondary education should begin while you are in high school.

Succeeding in College

A college learning environment is quite different from that of high school. College is less structured and will require you to use more self-monitoring skills than you needed in high school. There will be no teachers or parents making decisions for you. Be prepared to face an increased level of academic competition and to have less contact with your professors. You will be the person responsible for your actions, your learning, your successes and your failures as a college student.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The following resources can help find funding for education. Students with disabilities will also want to explore DO-IT's Scholarship page.

Preparing for a Career

Today's competitive job market demands that students possess knowledge, skills, and relevant job experiences that will set them apart from other applicants. Career preparation activities can increase their chances of obtaining employment after high school or college. Students can start exploring their career interests and developing their job skills at any age. Career exploration should be an ongoing process throughout high school, postsecondary studies, and beyond. 

Do not feel like you need to choose or settle—give yourself the chance to discover new interests and possibilities in a variety of fields. Job needs and opportunities are changing all the time, and you should allow yourself to grow and change as well.

For general job resources, explore a few of the following websites:

Job Accommodations

Consider disability-related accommodations you may need in order to successfully complete the assignments of a job. They may involve a change in the work environment, a modification to the way a specific job function is performed, or the use of assistive technology. Consult the following websites for information about job accommodations for people with disabilities.

Government Resources

Find out what local, state, and regional resources are available to you. The following websites are examples of government resources for employees with disabilities.

Participate in work-based learning activities.

Work-based learning opportunities can help you clarify academic and career interests, practice work-related skills, develop communication and collaboration skills through interaction with coworkers, and network with potential employers. They can also provide opportunities to determine if you can perform the essential functions of specific jobs, practice disclosing your disability and requesting accommodations from an employer, use assistive technology in a work setting, and test which accommodations work best for you. Work-based learning opportunities include informational interviews, job shadows, service learning, and internships. Consult the career services office or counseling center at your school for information about work‑based learning opportunities. The following are resources that describe types of work-based learning options and examples of work-based learning programs that might be available to you.

Resumes and Interviews

When you're ready to start applying to jobs, you'll need to build a resume

building a résumé, make a list of all relevant work experiences (paid and volunteer), academic experiences, and other relevant skills and activities. Consult the following resources for information about résumé content and style.

Often, the best way for an employer to get to know you is through an interview process. 

Resources

The following general resources are good places for students with disabilities and their families and advocates to start to explore career options.

Success Stories

One of DO-IT's strongest resources is the wealth of successes and shared experiences from our hundreds of amazing program participants.

There are also repositories of success stories shared by others: