Congratulations on helping your student reach this academic milestone. Disability Support Services is looking forward to working with your student.
Self-determination is the power to make choices and decisions based on preferences and interests of the individual. Self-determination is a critical skill for success in higher education because, once students with disabilities graduate from high school, they are no longer entitled to the individual services detailed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
In the post-secondary setting, individuals with a documented disability must self-identify – disclose their need for accommodations – to Disability Support Services. DSS then determines their eligibility for accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act.
Self-advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, making informed choices about your own life, accessing information to make decisions, building support, knowing your rights and responsibilities, reaching out to others when you need help and friendship and being determined to reach goals you developed.