New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Education

College or PostSecondary Education Rights and Responsibilities

• I am a student with a disability leaving high school and entering postsecondary education. Will I see differences in my rights and how they are addressed?

College Support and Resources

• How can a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency assist a person with a disability who is interested in attending college?
• Where can I find college scholarships or grants that are available to individuals with disabilities?
• I would like to go to college but with limited mobility, I will have a difficult time attending classes on-campus. How can I find information on programs that allow students to learn or earn a degree from their home?
• Which colleges and universities offer the best programs and services for students with disabilities?

IDEA (Individualized Education Program

• Where can I find information for my child on IDEA and communicating with the school?

State Specific Questions

Wisconsin

• How can I receive information regarding Wisconsin schools with inclusion programs?
• I am over 55 years of age, physically disabled and I would like to re-train for a job in computers that I may work from home. Unfortunately I came very close to, but I did not finish high school. How can I acquire a High School Equivalency Diploma in the State of Wisconsin?

College or PostSecondary Education Rights and Responsibilities

Q: I am a student with a disability leaving high school and entering postsecondary education. Will I see differences in my rights and how they are addressed?

• A: The following publication by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, is available on line at Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities. To order copies of this publication, write:
  
  Education Publications Center
  U.S. Department of Education
  P.O. Box 1398
  Jessup, MD 20794-1398
  
  You may fax your order to: 301-470-1244 or send an e-mail request to: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
  You may also call toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS).
  If 877 service is not yet available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 (1-800-USA-LEARN).
  Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY), should call 1-877-576-7734.
  To order online, point your Internet browser to: www.edpubs.org

  This pamphlet explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure that the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.

  Because both school districts and postsecondary schools must comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, you and your parents might believe that postsecondary schools and school districts have the same responsibilities. This is not true; the responsibilities of postsecondary schools are significantly different from those of school districts. Moreover, you will have responsibilities as a postsecondary student that you do not have as a high school student. Be sure to read this pamphlet to assist you in succeeding in your postsecondary education!

College Support and Resources

Q: How can a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency assist a person with a disability who is interested in attending college?

• A: Your State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency can provide financial assistance if your Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) includes college as a means of achieving a vocational goal leading to competitive employment. VR agencies provide a variety of assistance and have been known to provide assistance for the purchase of computers and specialized equipment. Contact your State VR agency to learn more.

Q: Where can I find information on low-interest loans, scholarship and / or grants available to college students with disabilities?

• A: Visit our NHU resource page on Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance
• Back to College offers an extensive listing of financial aid resources. While their website is geared towards returning students, the information provided can be useful to all.

• Heath Resource Center has developed a comprehensive web section concerning financial aid for students with disabilities, discussing grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. Check out this resource by visiting Show Me the Money! Options for Paying for College .

• A: PepNet, an organization dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, has developed an online guide entitled Financing Your Education, which offers information on Federal Aid, including loans and grants, as well on scholarships. This guide also offer links to many other helpful financial aid resources.

Q: I would like to go to college but with limited mobility, I will have a difficult time attending classes on-campus. How can I find information on programs that allow students to learn or earn a degree from their home?

• A: Many colleges and universities offer distance learning/education classes on a regular basis. As such, there are many websites dedicated to this subject. The following resources maintain databases of distance learning courses offered by colleges and universities across the United States. These websites allow potential students to search by course, degree program and/or institution.
  • Cyber U
  • R1.edu
  • Petersons.com - Distance Learning Programs and Distance Education Opportunities

• A: You can also visit NHU's Opportunities: Education: Distance Learning Programs.

Q:Which colleges and universities offer the best programs and services for students with disabilities?

• A: New Horizons Un-Limited has gathered information on colleges in the United States that offer exceptional disability services. Each college listed has been recognized for their disability services. To view this list visit our Education: Higher Education: Accessible Colleges and Universities web section.

• A: New Mobility Magazine has written an article entitled Disability Friendly Colleges. The article lists the top ten colleges and universities that New Mobility has found to be excellent for students with disabilities. Many of the colleges listed go beyond offering just the standard assistive devices. Many of them have created comprehensive programs that will thoroughly meet the needs of enrolled students with disabilities. To view this article, click on the link provided above.

IDEA (Individualized Education Program

Q: Where can I find information for my child on IDEA and communicating with the school?

• A: Exceptional Parent is a 35 year old resource for families and healthcare professionals caring for a loved one with a disability. See their section on education with guides written to give parents tips on IDEA (Individualized Education Program) and Planning for Transition.

State Listings

Wisconsin

Q: How can I receive information regarding Wisconsin schools with inclusion programs?

• A: The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Exceptional Education publishes a directory of schools participating in the Wisconsin School Inclusion Project. To request a copy, send $9.00 to: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Education, Department of Exceptional Education, Enderis Hall, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201 or call (414) 229-5680.

Q: I am over 55 years of age, physically disabled, live in the State of Wisconsin and I would like to re-train for a job in computers that I may work from home. Unfortunately I came very close to, but I did not finish high school. How can I acquire a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) in the State of Wisconsin?

• A: Contact your local high school or technical college for further assistance.
• A: The Department of Public Education offers a General Educational Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) brochure which provides a lot of information on the program choices, elegibility requirements and advice on which program to choose.
  • The link above provides the requirements, FAQ's, Wisconsin Testing centers and advice.
  • There are 5 ways to receive High School Equivalency Diploma. See the brochure for more information.
  • The HSED is recommended to have more earning power and to be accepted by a secondary education institution, or a local, state or federal job, requires more coursework in career planning however because you are over 55 you can obtain a waiver from taking the coursework.
  • As you are well over 18 years of age, are a legal resident of the state of Wisconsin, you are eligible to apply to take the GED tests.
  • You must take the GED tests at an authorized Wisconsin Testing center and the website warns that taking a test on-line is not an authorized test.
  • Once you have taken and passed the tests, you will be able to order certified transcripts from the state as proof you have graduated to forward to education institutions or employers.

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