Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities

by Elizabeth C. Hamblet

“Just when I’ve mastered the IEP process, here comes college.” If you’re a parent of a student with a disability who has an IEP or 504 or you’re a professional who works with them, you probably know the K-12 landscape well. But you may have questions about what happens for these students when they get to college, where the shifts in prevailing laws result in a disability accommodation system that works differently, the academic demands increase, and some of the supports students have used in high school won’t be available. The good news is that research shows that the proper preparation can help students make a smooth college transition! But the planning needs to be rooted in a thorough understanding of the changes they’ll encounter in the college environment. In this essential guide, college learning disabilities specialist Elizabeth C. Hamblet builds a foundation of knowledge step-by-step and answers your urgent questions. In 7 Steps to College Success, you’ll learn ·students access accommodations, and which ones commonly are and aren’t approved ·parents and professionals can help students develop the key personal and academic skills needed for self-management at college ·students can find colleges that are a good fit in all of the important ways and what admissions directors want them to know about the application process This third edition has been greatly revised to make it equally helpful to parents and professionals. It includes updated research and interviews, and new in this edition is corrections to common myths readers may have heard.

226 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2024

About the author

Elizabeth C. Hamblet has worked as a learning disabilities specialist in college disability services offices for two decades. In addition to working at a university, she is a nationally-requested speaker on preparing students with disabilities for successful college transition. Hamblet is the author of Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities and a brief guide on transition, and her work has appeared in numerous journals and online platforms. She offers advice and information on her website at www.LDadvisory.com.

Reviews

[Judy Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work as a disability services provider at a liberal arts university. In addition I am the state president of our professional organization and a former special education teacher. If you have a high school student with a disability, are a high school student with a disability, or teach high school students with disabilities, you need this book in your life. It will walk you through EVERYTHING you need to know and consider as you transition to higher education. Hamblet did not leave a single stone unturned. I read this with a group of other higher education disability professionals and we all agreed the step-by-step guide you need!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

My twins have ADHD and just started their freshmen year of college. Even though this book is geared toward parents, I think that all educators/guidance counselors and future educators of high school students with disabilities along with students with disabilities (DS) should read this book.

There is a lot of information out there (in parent groups or from educators) that is incorrect. The author did an excellent job of providing ample research and source interviews to dispel myths and provide accurate information. She provides information in an easy-to-read manner regarding disability laws, psychology related to DS and feedback from educators at colleges regarding DS success.

The author takes the reader step-by-step on how to transition from high school to college for DS. She clearly identifies how high school and college differ for DS regarding laws and expectations.

In step 4 the author defines how academically college and high school differ and ways that college could be challenging for DS. She then identifies ways that the students can set themselves up for success.

In the final step 7, she outlines common accommodations that might be helpful for DS and ones that are typically not approved so that DS can manage their expectations. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

[JB Jones]

If you want the easy way - then Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities is not your pathway.
If you want that college experience, this book helps you find a pathway to achieve that goal. Taking on a college pathway is not easy and if you have not learned how to advocate for yourself while in high school, then you will have difficulty working with the Disability Services Office and integrating the supports you need to achieve that goal.
Elizabeth Hamblet is one who speaks on the process to achieve the needed accommodations to support the student with disabilities in their pursuit. Her book extends the support beyond her previous books and her 6-page support elements for students with disabilities pursuing the college experience. It is not easy and she so states it; but the processes she speaks about if taken as guidance in the interactions with the Disability Services office will help you achieve success.
Again, if you want it served on a silver platter this book is not for you.
However, if you want to take ownership of your disability and find that support pathway through higher education to help you achieve, then this is a great resource. GOOD Luck!

[Guinevere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed and easy to understand guide that is helpful to parents of Disabled students, professionals working in the field, and Disabled students themselves. Really thorough, I learned a lot that will be helpful to understand where my future students are coming from. If the word "neurotypical" wasn't used incorrectly, I would give it 5 stars, but that really bothered me so that makes it lose a star. "Neurotypical" is not a synonym for "not-disabled", there are many Disabled students who are still neurotypical, ex. a student who is a wheelchair user but doesn't have any learning disabilities, mental health disorders, ADHD or autism would be neurotypical, thus being Disabled and neurotypical at the same time.

[T Engberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in the throes of my son's Senior year in a high school for students with language based learning disabilities. He is profoundly dyslexic. The thought of more school for someone who has struggled since Kindergarten seems especially daunting. However, Elizabeth's book helps allay some of the concerns I've had, and does a keen job of explaining the realities of students with disabilities as they head off for further education. There's a lot of misinformation floating around in online groups about what schools can and can't offer, and Elizabeth cuts through that misinformation like a hot knife through butter. I cannot recommend this book enough.