FamilyConnect

As the school year comes to a close, your college-bound teen who is blind or visually impaired is one step closer to adulthood. But whether they’re heading to college in the fall or they have a few more years in high school, how can they use their remaining time to prepare for the significant transition?  

Might I suggest asking your child which of their goals they’re motivated to accomplish? 

Utilize the following resources to help them meet their objectives. 

For parents of high school students 

Equipping Your Teen Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired for College—in this blog, también disponible en español, a first-generation college graduate who is blind shares, from personal experience, her suggestions for preparing your teen to succeed in post-secondary education. The author reviews: 

• tasks your child can begin to take ownership of while still in high school 
• how your child can request accommodations for the SAT/ ACT 

• how your child can request accommodations in college 

Preparing for College with Visual Impairment—this article, también disponible en español, addresses the specific training your college-bound child who is blind or visually impaired will require. The subject matter includes: 

• personal responsibilities your child should assume to prepare for success in college 
• blindness competencies necessary for college success 
• academic competencies necessary for college success 

• providing realistic feedback to your teen 

For parents of recent high school graduates 

College Life Begins! Preparing for College as a Visually Impaired Student—this article, también disponible en español, explores how a teen who is blind or visually impaired can use the summer before college to prepare for the exciting transition.  The following topics are addressed: 

• conversations to have with the college’s Office of Services for Students with Disabilities 
• receiving orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction on campus 

• deciding what to pack for college 
• conversations your teen can have with college graduates 
• when to arrive on campus 
• important buildings and resources your child should familiarize themself with 
• key points to suggest to your teen after their arrival 

For college-bound teens 

The following two resources are geared to teens who are blind or visually impaired. Consider making them available to your adolescent. 

If your teen is worried about being on their own at college, provide them with You’re Not Alone: Starting College When You Are Blind or Visually Impaired. It will encourage them with practical ways to make friends and feel at home in their new environment. 

If your teen is motivated to prepare for college, provide them with Transition to College: Program Activity Guide for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. This activity guide covers the following skills: 

• Researching admissions requirements 

• Navigating the application process 
• Requesting accommodations for the SAT or ACT 
• Applying for scholarships, grants, or loans 
• Ordering materials in accessible formats 
• Establishing a working relationship with the Office for Students with Disabilities 

• Coordinating services with a vocational rehabilitation agency 
• Using knowledge of one’s rights and responsibilities as a student who is visually impaired 
• Independently traveling on campus 
• Advocating with professors in a self-determined manner 
• Hiring and working with a live reader 

With your child taking the lead, your support behind them, and FamilyConnect’s resources, your child can use their remaining time at home to prepare for their college success!