Understanding your disability and how it impacts your learning will help you be a successful college student. When you request services from an office of disability services, you will have to describe your disability and what your needs are in the classroom. This is called self-advocacy. One way to understand your disability and how it affects your learning is by reviewing the professional documentation of your disability. This documentation may be provided by a medical doctor or through testing done by a school psychologist.

 

	Make an appointment with your doctor if you have medical reports describing your disability, or with the school psychologist if testing related to your disability was conducted at school. At the time you schedule this appointment, let the doctor or school psychologist know that you would like to review the documentation of your disability at this meeting. You may also want to invite a parent or family member. It might be a good idea to send these professionals a letter that explains that you want to discuss your disability and its impact on your learning in school. See the sample letter in Activity 2 worksheet on the Post-ITT Website.* At the meeting, have a discussion about your disability and ask the following important questions: What is my disability? Please describe it in terms I can understand. In what specific ways does it affect how I learn? What are my learning strengths? (How do I learn best?) Which academic accommodations are supported by my documentation? What was the date of the last diagnosis of my disability? Be sure to take notes during this discussion and do not leave the meeting until you understand the answers to the above questions. If the language that is used during this meeting is confusing, ASK to have it explained in terms you will understand. Take a copy of these questions with you as a reminder. A sample outline of questions is provided on the Post-ITT Website (Activity 2 worksheet*).
	After the meeting, organize your notes into an outline or paragraph. Include the answers to the above questions.
	Review the information with your special education teacher or family member.

*Activity 2 worksheets.