Prepare to Advocate

As we stated in the "A Little Background" section, more students with intellectual disabilities are taking typical classes at college and for the most part, this makes a lot of people very happy. As more students include college in their career planning, there is growing interest from the public to learn more about how this is possible. In a recent magazine article, "College is Possible for Students with Intellectual Disabilities," students, families and advocates were interviewed to talk about how students with intellectual disabilities are getting the opportunity to go to college. A number of readers posted comments after reading the article. Among the positive things people had to say are these comments:

• It's time to stop focusing on all the things people 'can't' do, and instead focus on tapping the sometimes untapped potential that exists in each person. We may not all have the ability to learn in the same way, at the same pace, and to the same extent--and that's OK--how boring life would be if we were all the same!
• We must educate every member of our society to their fullest potential and all too often, high schools are not a measure of that potential. Only when we do so will we be the greatest country on earth.
• Persons with disabilities (physical and intellectual) hopefully represent the "last frontier" for equality for all citizens.
• I would surely love to see my daughter attend some college classes (degreed or not) to help her get a better paying job.

These are great comments. However, when you prepare for college, you should be aware that there are some people--fewer and fewer people, thank goodness--who still believe college should be a privileged opportunity for those students who get very good grades and do not need accommodations to do well in school. In that same string of comments were a few from readers who are not as positive about these college opportunities. One reader wrote:

Doesn't 'intellectually challenged' indicate that someone is NOT a likely college student? If you can't make it through a class without an extraordinary effort on the part of several people, not just you...then you just do not belong in college. We need to get over this idea that everyone is entitled to, or even should, attend college.

A few other people think that any resources that are made available for college should be directed to students who they think will benefit the most from college. Meaning that they will make the most of it and get a good job when they graduate. One reader wrote:

A few others think that if a person has an intellectual disability, they could not possibly do well in college. The people who think like this are not the majority of the people and they are certainly not the people who have seen students with intellectual disabilities attend college and do well.

Why do you need to know this--especially the comments that are hurtful? Well, it’s important for you to know this because occasionally you may run into people who share these sentiments. Some people who have these attitudes may work in high schools or colleges or work with people with disabilities. If this is the case, they might find it hard to support your interest in going to college. For this reason, you must be prepared to speak up for yourself and advocate for the help you are seeking in order to go to college and do well.

Here are some times when you will need to be prepared to advocate for yourself:

1. When you think you might like to learn more about college--tell someone
2. When someone comments aloud that he or she wonders what you will get out of college- remind them that you will get what other college students get. An education.
3. When you have an idea about what courses you would like to register for--push to find the closest match.
4. When people seem to be talking more to your educational coach than to you--redirect them to speak directly to you.
5. If your instructor is not providing the accommodations that have been requested, speak up.