Parent Resources

Students are now in the driver's seat, but families and support networks are still important! Here are some ways you can support your student:

• Remind them to check their OU email regularly. This is the primary means of communication with our office.
• Teach your student to self-advocate.
• Plan with your student before school starts. It might be helpful to have them mark important dates for accommodations in their calendar. 
• Find a healthy balance of knowing when to become actively involved in a situation; give your student an opportunity to learn. 
• Be there when your student needs support. 

Legislation that protects students with disabilities in K-12 changes once students exit the school system and enter college or employment settings. Students may have had an IEP or 504 plan in high school. While those documents can be helpful to us in determining reasonable accommodations at the postsecondary level, IEPs and 504 plans do not “transfer” to college. Laws protecting postsecondary students from discrimination on the basis of disability are different than K-12 protections.

To develop a better understanding of the transition to postsecondary education for students with disabilities, the US Department of Education has an excellent document that provides a wealth of information. Please visit their site, US Department of Education, for more information on this transition.

Students’ right to privacy is federally protected under the Federal Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). This Act prevents anyone from discussing the presence or participation of a student in any university activity without prior consent from the student. The full statement is available to read in the University Privacy Rights Policy.