College Accommodations: What Parents Should Realistically Expect

By Chelsea Quann, MS, LEP, PPS, licensed educational psychologist (#4640) 

When your teen transitions to higher education, college accommodations shift from guaranteeing academic success to simply providing equal access to the curriculum. While colleges commonly approve extended test time and assistive technology, they rarely grant assignment extensions, modified grading, or one-on-one aides. Below, we break down exactly what types of support you can realistically expect so your student is fully prepared for university-level independence.

The Legal Shift: Why College Accommodations Are Different

Many parents are shocked to learn that their child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) officially expires upon high school graduation. This happens because the legal foundation of your child's education completely changes once they step onto a college campus.

From IDEA to the ADA and Section 504

In the K-12 system, public schools operate under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law is an entitlement statute that mandates schools actively identify students with disabilities and provide specialized instruction to ensure their overall success.

In higher education, students are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These are civil rights laws designed to prevent discrimination. They do not guarantee success or modify the academic curriculum. Their sole purpose is to ensure students face no discriminatory barriers to access.

The Student Becomes the Chief Advocate

Because of this legal shift, there are no case managers at the college level checking your student's grades or reminding them exactly how to prep for the quarterly exam. Your student must proactively self-disclose their disability to the disability services office to get college accommodations.

Due to FERPA privacy laws, college staff and professors will not speak to parents about a student's academic progress without a signed waiver. Even with a waiver, the university is not obligated to proactively call you if your child is failing. The student must step into the driver's seat and act as their own chief advocate.

What College Accommodations to Realistically Expect

It is vital to review your teen's current high school supports and compare them to what a university will actually provide. Colleges evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. However, there are clear trends in what universities routinely approve versus what they deny.

Commonly Approved Supports

If supported by current and comprehensive diagnostic documentation, universities frequently approve the following college accommodations:

• Extended time on exams: This is typically calculated as 50% extra time (time and a half) for quizzes, midterms, and final exams.
• Reduced-distraction testing: Permission to take exams in a separate, quiet room away from the main lecture hall.
• Assistive technology access: Permission to record lectures or use text-to-speech software and audiobooks.
• Priority registration: The ability to register for classes early to build a schedule that aligns with medication windows or ADHD needs.

Accommodations Rarely or Never Approved

Colleges will not approve requests that fundamentally alter the essential requirements of a specific course. Parents should anticipate that the following high school supports will end:

• Deadline extensions: Universities expect students to manage their time and meet deadlines just like everyone else. Extensions are rarely granted for executive dysfunction.
• Modified curriculum: Professors will not shorten research papers, remove multiple-choice answers, or reduce the number of required homework problems.
• One-on-one aides: Colleges do not provide personal aides or paraprofessionals to keep students on task or assist with studying.
• Exam retakes: Students cannot retake a failed exam to secure a better grade.
• Teacher-created study guides: Students are expected to read the syllabus and synthesize their own study materials.

The "Safe Tumble" Framework for Parents

High school is the ultimate dress rehearsal for college. As a parent, you need to start scaling back your interventions now so your teen can practice independence. I recommend using the "Safe Tumble" Framework during your teen's junior and senior years.

First, audit your teen's current IEP or 504 plan. Identify the supports they are receiving that will not exist in college, such as deadline extensions or modified homework.

Next, work with your high school team to actively fade these accommodations out. It is far better for your teen to experience a "safe tumble" while still living at home. Letting them face the natural consequence of a forgotten assignment in high school teaches them the crucial problem-solving skills they will need when they are hours away on a college campus.

FAQs About College Accommodations

Will a college automatically accept my child's high school IEP?

No. An IEP is not legally binding at the college level. While it can be submitted as historical evidence, most colleges require a recent, comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation to formally approve college accommodations.

Can I call the college disability office on my child's behalf?

You can call to ask general questions, but the intake process is entirely student-led. The accessibility coordinator will want to speak directly to your teen to understand their functional barriers and needs.

Will my child's professors know their diagnosis?

No. Disability records are strictly confidential. The disability office will only provide a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) stating which supports are approved. The specific diagnosis is never disclosed to professors unless your student chooses to share it.

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About the Author: Chelsea Quann, MS, LEP, PPS, is a licensed educational psychologist (#4640) specializing in psychoeducational assessments for college transitions and high-stakes testing. Learn more at www.blueprintevaluations.com.

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