At Disability Resources and Services (DRS), we understand that parents of students with a disability have additional concerns beyond those of other parents. We also understand that you may be accustomed to playing a very active role in your student’s education.

As parents of a student with a disability, you may have worked closely with a multi-disciplinary team at the high school level to make sure that your student received accommodations. At college, the service model changes tremendously. While we do have a department to assist students with a disability on campus, there is no equivalent to the team approach to which you may be accustomed. What this means is that the DRS staff and the Temple University faculty are not responsible for identifying students with a disability or connecting them with DRS. Students must identify themselves to the department. Since your student is attending college, and is at least (or almost) 18 years of age, he or she is viewed as an adult. The student is the only one who can initiate and participate in the process of applying for accommodations.

Your role, at this point, is to encourage your student to apply for the necessary accommodations, and then allow the student to take on the responsibility. Part of the independence your student will gain by going to college includes making the choice about whether or not to pursue disability accommodations.