Portfolio of Informative Materials for Prospective East Carolina University Students Seeking Accommodations From Disability Support Services

Abstract

This project aims to address the lack of knowledge disabled high school students have about disability-related support at East Carolina University. In the United States, there is a large difference in what disability accommodations and support look like when comparing kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education. This difference occurs due to a discrepancy in federal laws which dictate what the school is legally required to provide to disabled students. Disabled high school students are often not aware of this legal change and as a result frequently enter college with the misconception that their disability-related support will remain the same. Additionally, the vagueness of disability legislation that applies to higher education institutions results in a lack of standardization in disability support services across the United States as each institution interprets the legislation differently. To address this lack knowledge, I designed, produced, and distributed a portfolio of informative materials containing information demonstrating the differences between kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education disability-related support. The information contained in the materials was compiled from research papers, East Carolina University Disability Support Services, and interviews with disability support services offices at several other higher education institutions. The materials included a flier, PowerPoint presentation, and video. Finally, I distributed the portfolio to high schools known to have a large percentage of graduates that attend East Carolina University.