Elena Wisniewski, M.Ed., CRC
After years working on university campuses, I saw a recurring struggle. Brilliant students were struggling not because of their classes, but because they lacked an insider's map for navigating the high school to college transition — setting up accommodations and advocating for resources in a completely new system.
Parents were frustrated by documentation hurdles and students without self-advocacy skills faced delayed accommodations and stressful starts. I founded Equipped Transitions to bridge this gap, providing professional development coaching that ensures families feel supported and students are prepared to own their journey for a positive, successful first semester.
My Story
I believe college is a vital stepping stone toward independence, but for many students with disabilities, that step is a leap into the unknown. My journey in this field began long before I became a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). With a focus on autism and autistic students during my undergraduate studies and over seven years of volunteer experience working with students across a wide range of disabilities, including high functioning autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety, I saw firsthand both the brilliance and the unique hurdles these students face.
While working within the university system, I created a dedicated support program for autistic students to ensure they had a space tailored to their success. Yet across the board I consistently saw the same recurring problem in the high school to college transition: students struggled to ask for the help they deserved, while parents were understandably frustrated by complex, shifting college disability accommodation documentation requirements that nobody had prepared them for.
This lack of preparation creates "First-Year Friction."
When college disability accommodations are delayed, it creates a high-stress environment exactly when students need to feel the most secure. University disability offices are often stretched thin, supporting hundreds of students with varying needs. They simply aren't equipped to provide the intensive, 1-on-1 professional development coaching that makes the difference between a student who merely survives and a student who thrives.
Equipped Transitions was born from a desire to fix this. Whether it's debunking myths about documentation requirements, navigating the legal shift from high school IDEA protections to college ADA standards, or building the self-advocacy skills students need to confidently request and use college disability accommodations - I provide the tools, the scripts, and the professional development assistance to ensure that the high school to college transition is a bridge, not a cliff.
Who I Work With
I provide professional development coaching for students with a wide range of disabilities navigating the high school to college transition — including students with ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions that qualify for college disability accommodations.
My services are available virtually to families across the United States. Every engagement begins with a free 15-minute strategy call so we can identify exactly what your student needs before recommending a service package.
If you've been searching for a certified rehabilitation counselor who specializes in the college transition — you've found her.
Why Work with a CRC?
A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) is a nationally board-certified professional with graduate-level training in the medical, psychological, and vocational aspects of disability. Unlike a general coach, a certified rehabilitation counselor is specifically trained to navigate the complex interaction between a student’s unique diagnosis and the real-world environment - including the college disability accommodation process. This certification ensures your strategist follows a strict national code of ethics and stays at the forefront of disability legislation and college support.
To learn more about the rigorous standards and ethical code required of board-certified counselors, visit the CRCC website.
If you want to hear why I enjoy being a CRC and the "why" behind Equipped Transitions, listen to my guest appearance on the Inside Rehabilitation Counseling podcast here.