This document discusses transitioning to college with a disability and provides tips for doing so successfully. It recommends students register with their campus disability services office, understand available accommodations and services, and negotiate accommodations with professors. The document stresses using assistive technologies, like text-to-speech, to focus and feel comfortable on campus. Students are encouraged to advocate for themselves and the tools and accommodations they need.

1. Transition to College
with the MITS Freedom Stick

2. the freedom to do it yourself
Part Four: Disability Life

3. Disability Life on Campus
1. Making yourself safe and comfortable
2. Disabled Student Services
3. Working with faculty
4. Technology in Class

4. Safety and Comfort

5. Finding Your Way
• Where are the buildings for
your classes?
• How long does it take to get
from place to place?
• How long do you need to get
comfortable when you arrive
for class?
• Where can you get food and
drinks when you need them?
• Where can you study quietly
and comfortably?
• How do you make your
study space work for you? Where are
accessible doors?
Where are elevators?

6. Tools which help focus...
• Use Text-To-Speech -
Balabolka - to help you
focus on reading in
crowded situations.
• Or use music to screen
out distractions - free
options like Pandora.
o You might store
some songs on your
Freedom Stick.
• Comfortable - but
respectful - clothing
• Add Campus Map .pdf
How do you create
to your phone and your own focus?
Freedom Stick

7. Calendar Text Alerts
Attach your homework
documents right to the class
appointment
Set Text Message
("SMS") reminders to be
sent to your phone, set
as many as you need,
make sure the last one
gets you there on time

8. Text Alert Set Up
In "Calendar Settings"
click on
"Mobile Settings"
Put in your Mobile
Phone Number and
follow the directions

9. Disabled Student Services
Register with your
campus disability
office at least two
months before
school starts.
Visit them before
you decide on
attending, so you
understand what is
available.

10. Disabled Student Services
Know how to get
there both in
person and
online
Know how to
access services

11. Register for Services
Different
schools use
different forms
You will need "proof"
which may come from
your school or a doctor.
This "proof" will need to
be 3 years (or less) old.

12. Know "the usual"
This is not what
you are limited to,
but it suggests
what the school is
familiar with
If you have used
systems in high school
you should request
those, but if the college
has a different but
equivalent system in
place, you should try
that first.

13. Understand the Process
Every college
has a process.
Ask about it.
Understand it.

14. The Letter to Professors
Disclosure should only
discuss things which
you need help with.
Not general
disclosure.
The letter is built by you
and your disability
advisor, and may be
different for each
course, depending on
your specific needs.

15. Keep them informed
If anything changes, please tell your
Disability Services Advisor. They can
change accommodations for you.

16. Working with Faculty
You are an adult.
You are in control
of your life, your
identity, and the
disclosure of your
information.
Tell your professors
what you need, and
why, and negotiate
a solution.

17. Talking to Professors
1. Set up an appointment with your professor during their office hours or
another agreed-upon time.
2. DO NOT openly discuss your disability with your professor in front of others.
This is a private conversation.
3. Write out questions or issues that you want to discuss with your professor.
While you will need to discuss your accommodation needs, you are not
required to discuss your disability or explain why you need the
accommodations.
4. If you are unclear about anything, make sure to ask more questions. You
should leave the meeting with a clear understanding of how your
accommodations will be implemented.

18. Different Professors
Some faculty are easy,
flexible, and trusting. They
will often help you gain
accommodations in the ways
easiest for you.
Others, less informed, or
more rigid, will create many
rules, especially around
testing.
If you have a choice of
professors, ask other
students about their
experiences.

19. Negotiating Testing
You have a right to take exams
with the technologies you use
in the classroom. Including Text-
To-Speech and Speech-To-Text.

20. Technology in Class
Using the right tools can make
the difference between
success and failure at your
college or university.
Use the tools you need. Do not
let anyone talk you out of using
those tools, in the classroom
or studying in groups or
on your own.

21. Technology Everywhere
Your Freedom Stick software, on the
Flash Drive or just installed on your
computer, is your start on personalized
assistive technology which will support
you everywhere you go... now,
throughout your education, and in the
world of work and life.
Make sure that all of your tools -
computers, phones, tablets - support all
that you do.

22. Freedom Stick Mantano Reader
Freedom Stick
Utilities for Android
Getting Started