More students with disabilities going to college

When she arrived at Bergen Community College last September, Rachel Bowers felt overwhelmed.

"I didn't know what building to go to or where I was supposed to be," recalled the 19-year-old from New Milford, who is intellectually disabled. "It was pretty scary for me."

Bowers got help from mentors at Bergen Community College's Turning Point Program, a two-year non-degree program designed for students who live with intellectual impairments including autism. Bowers' mentor helped her find her way around campus, coached her with homework assignments and connected her to socialization opportunities.

"If I didn't have Turning Point, college would be very challenging," said Bowers, who takes typical college courses along with classes that help prepare her for independent life and employment. "It's taught me so much."

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Until recently, college was not an option for students like Bowers, who live with learning disabilities, autism or extreme depression and anxiety. Historically, many students who age out of school programs at 21 had nowhere to go.

When Turning Point was launched in 2012, it was among the few college programs of its kind in the country. Now, there are six in New Jersey and many others cropping up nationwide that are geared toward students with intellectual and emotional impairments.

In fact, "The K&W Guide to College Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADHD," published by Random House, has expanded from a few dozen programs since its first edition, published in 1990, to 362 programs, author Marybeth Kravets said.

When Kravets began working on the book, no colleges wanted to talk to her, and finding a publisher was difficult. "We were trying to write about colleges helping kids who learn differently," she said. "But colleges didn't want to say anything. They were afraid that this is how they would be identified. Now colleges are asking to be part of the book."

In 2011-12, 11 percent of college undergraduates reported having a disability, a significant uptick from 6 percent in 1995-96, the National Center for Education Statistics found.

Much of the increase is because of the rising numbers of students who have been diagnosed with disabilities. About 15 percent of children aged 3 to 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Developmental disabilities are classified as a group of conditions because of an impairment in physical, learning language or behavioral areas, and may permanently affect daily functioning.

The surge in programs also can be attributed to laws enacted in recent years that require colleges to provide accommodations to students with special needs. But the level of support varies by school. Some colleges have disability service offices that provide free help, such as tutoring or counseling. The students are required to ask for help and provide proof of a learning disability. Other colleges offer comprehensive programs for students with autism, Down syndrome and severe learning disabilities. Several colleges, including Landmark College in Vermont, only take students with disabilities.

Fairleigh Dickenson University's COMPASS program, which provides support for students with high functioning autism spectrum disorder, and Bergen Community College's Turning Point Program are among a swelling list of colleges around the country that provide all-inclusive, highly personalized programs for those with disabilities.

Such programs cost more – approximately $6,000 in addition to university tuition and residence fees – and require an alternate application process. They provide extra mentoring, coaching and academic as well as non-academic support. Students in these programs gain vocational, social and life skills. Many of them graduate and are hired for jobs that they may not have been prepared for otherwise.

"Colleges around the country are seeing that these young people deserve a college education with the right support and course of study, and we are seeing great results" said Cate Weir, program director of Think College in Boston, a national group that aims to boost higher education options for people with disabilities. "There's a relationship between this college experience and better employment outcomes. We see them getting a wide array of positions."

Some even go on to graduate school. Tara McFadden, 25, of Wyckoff is proof that students of all abilities can be highly successful with the right support.

When she first started at Ramapo College in Mahwah, "I was freaking out," she recalled. Being a freshman alone is intimidating, but on top of that, McFadden is learning disabled and has had to obtain accommodations in school since age 11. She has needed extra help taking notes and a private room during exams to reduce distractions.

She sought help at the Office of Specialized Services and felt more comfortable immediately with the array of accommodations, including tutors, note takers, reduced distractions on exams, special seating, books on computer and a special services counselor who helps her stay organized when she needs it, she said.

"The services have helped me tremendously," said McFadden, now a graduate student at Ramapo's School of Social Work. "I could not have done it without their help."

Ramapo's busy Office of Specialized Services assists more than 450 students, representing 6 percent of the student population, said its director, David Nast, adding that the number of students seeking help grows every year. "But the students must be willing to disclose that they have a disability and they need the help," he said. "Unfortunately, may students perceive a stigma and are reluctant to disclose."