DSS Student & Parent Resources

Disability Support Services understand parents of students with disabilities may have more concerns than parents of typical college students.

You are probably accustomed to playing an active part in your student's education. The changes in services and responsibility at the college level often take parents and students by surprise. High schools don't always prepare families for the differences they face when enrolling in college.

We hope the information on our website helps provide the information you need to better understand post-secondary disability services so you can continue to support your student at this level.

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans do not exist at the college level. Disability Support Services, college faculty, and LWTech staff are not responsible for identifying students with disabilities and connecting them with Disability Support Services. Students must identify themselves to the office, provide documentation of disability, and request accommodations. The student is the only one who can initiate the accommodation process. Please encourage your student to apply for DSS.

You can help your student by:

• Looking at the Disability Support Services webpage together
.
• Making sure your student understands his or her diagnosis and is able to explain the diagnosis
.
• Encouraging your student to contact DSS and TRiO
.
• Going over your student's documentation to make certain it is current and complete
.

If you would like support your child by participating in the initial DSS Planning Meeting where we determine accommodations, please be advised that the conversation will be with the student only with time for questions at the end of the meeting. Since college is a setting that requires students to be an independent adult-learner, we want to encourage self-efficacy and advocacy. You can best support your student by observing during the meeting and reflecting on the experience together afterwards.