Free Resources for Families Navigating the High School to College Transition
The shift from high school to college is more than a change of paperwork. It is a total shift in legal rights, identity, and strategy — and most families are navigating it without a map.
As a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor specializing in the high school to college transition, I created these free resources to help families understand the college disability accommodation process before it catches them off guard. Whether your student has an IEP, a 504 plan, or a recent neuropsychological evaluation, the resources below are a starting point for getting prepared.
Free College Accommodations Audit
Not sure if your student's documentation is college-ready? The free College Accommodations Audit is designed to help families identify gaps in their IEP, 504 plan, or evaluation paperwork before those gaps cost their student accommodations on Day 1.
The audit covers three critical questions:
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Is the college choice finalized? No two disability services offices are identical — documentation requirements vary by school and your family needs a focused plan before reacting to deadlines.
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Is your documentation college-ready? Most colleges require evaluations completed within three years. If yours is older your accommodation request may be denied. The audit walks you through how to check and what to do if you need updated testing.
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Have you audited the disability services site? Applying for college disability accommodations is completely separate from the college application. Being accepted to a school does not mean accommodations are approved — and housing accommodation deadlines are often earlier than academic ones.
Download the free audit below and take the first step toward making sure your student's high school to college transition goes smoothly.
The Equipped Insider — Monthly College Transition Guidance
The Equipped Insider is a free monthly newsletter for families navigating the high school to college transition with a student who has a disability.
Each issue covers the real questions families are asking — from how to interpret a college disability office's documentation requirements, to what self-advocacy skills students need before move-in day, to how to handle it when an accommodation request is denied.
Beyond the checklists, the Equipped Insider tackles the misconceptions that hold students back — from debunking ESA certificate scams to reframing why disability documentation is a powerful tool for access rather than a label to be feared.
This is your home for college transition truth.
Enter your email in the box below to subscribe!
Hear Elena on the Inside Rehabilitation Counseling Podcast
Want to hear the story behind Equipped Transitions and why the high school to college transition is one of the most under-supported moments in the life of a student with a disability?
Elena Wisniewski, M.Ed., CRC was featured on the Inside Rehabilitation Counseling podcast — produced by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) — where she discusses college transition strategies for students with disabilities, the difference between K-12 IDEA protections and college ADA standards, and what families can do right now to make sure their student is set up for success.
Ready for More Than a Free Resource?
Free resources are a great starting point — but every family's situation is unique. If you're not sure whether your student's documentation is truly college-ready, or if you want a personalized professional development plan for the high school to college transition, a free 15-minute strategy call is the best next step.