Preparing for College this Summer, College Life Begins
The summer before your child enters college is a transitional time. While they are still living at home, they must prepare for their life away. An important part of the preparation is ensuring that the services they need will be ready when they arrive on campus.
Getting a Head Start
One of the first steps is to contact the college’s Office of Services for Students with Disabilities to find out what special services are available to help your child during their first days on campus. While the staff may not be able to help with everything, they will be able to advise your teen about the kinds of services she can expect and what procedures to follow for making arrangements, if possible, for:
- Early registration for classes
- Early check-in at her dorm
- Test accommodations
- Texts and other course materials in accessible formats
Many colleges allow early registration and check-in for students with disabilities. Those two accommodations can go a long way toward reducing the stress and busy pace by making it easier to get around physically and become familiar with the campus before the entire student body arrives.
Before Arriving on Campus
If your child requires an orientation and mobility (O&M) instructor, another essential step is to contact the state commission for the blind or a rehabilitation agency to make arrangements for O&M instruction as they get to college. The state commission or rehabilitation agency may also be able to help in other ways, such as:
- Providing some of the equipment your teen will need at school
- Providing your child with information about other possible sources of financial aid
- Connecting your teen with the appropriate state agency if they will be attending college in another state
Connecting with Other Students:
- Many colleges have social media pages where your child can join and develop friendships.
- Connect with others in the dorm building and roommates once you have your assigned roommate.
What to Bring to College:
Your child may be wondering what to bring with them and what other arrangements need to be made in advance for moving in and getting settled before classes begin. The college is the best source of that information and should be contacted at least a month before the school year begins. Your child should also start to think about what they need to make her dorm room comfortable—keeping in mind that dorm rooms are usually small, so they’ll have to use the space wisely.
Another way for your teen to prepare for her new way of life is to talk with friends, siblings, relatives, and other visually impaired college students and adults about their experiences in starting college. What was moving in like? Were they scared? How did they handle getting acclimated? Having some sense of what to expect in the months ahead can help your child—and you—look forward to the new experience with greater confidence.
But no matter how much planning and arranging has been accomplished, as the first day of college approaches, you and your child will most likely feel a range of emotions—excitement, anxiety, and everything in between. This is a big event in your child’s life.
What to do First:
When your teen arrives on campus, they will have a lot to do. In addition to meeting roommates and finding out everything they need to know about housing, eating, academic, and social arrangements, they will need to:
- Move into their dorm or apartment
- Get acquainted with their counselor at the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.
- Gain confidence in getting around the campus independently
The list above covers the bare minimum. Therefore, being well-organized and planning will help them to make this transition as smooth as possible. Here is an overview to help from you along the way to her new life as a college student.
Campus Orientation
One of the very first things your teen will need when she arrives on campus is orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction for getting around the campus. Depending on how large the college is, they may need several sessions. They may also need to schedule additional O&M instruction once registered for classes and knows which buildings and classrooms they’ll be going to.
Your teen should get an accessible campus map and details on buildings from the college’s information center. They should also request a print map for their O&M instructor. They will begin with an orientation to the campus and nearby areas.
Arrival at College
You and your child should plan to arrive on campus as early as possible. Once they receive clearance from the college to move in a week before check-in, it is a good idea to use the entire week to settle in and get familiar with her new environment. Many different buildings and areas on campus will need to be accessed.
Learning the Ropes
The following is a list of important buildings and areas, in addition to the general layout of the campus, that your teen should get familiar with as soon as possible.
- Information Center
- Dormitory, including room, cafeteria, laundry room, bathrooms, showers, emergency exits, and any special features
- Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
- Office of the Registrar for tasks such as registering, paying tuition, dropping or adding classes, and other administrative details
- College bookstore
- Library
- Student center, including restrooms, lounges, study areas, and cafeterias
- Academic advisor’s office
- Local shops, restaurants, convenience stores, pharmacies, delicatessens, and so forth
Once your child is comfortable with getting around this new environment, there are a couple of other key points you might suggest:
- Get involved in various activities to meet friends and perhaps develop new interests.
- Get comfortable about advocating for themself!