Catch the College Wave is a one-day conference designed specifically for high school students who have a disability and are considering post-secondary education, either college or technical institutes. Students hear from current college students who are receiving accommodations at the disability services office at their college.The SD Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services, Financial Aid representatives, DakotaLink assistive technology specialists, and Disability Services Coordinators also make presentations at the conference. The conference is coordinated by our Transition Services Liaison Project.TSLP Program Coordinator, Dan Rounds, says the goal is to help prepare students to be their own advocates when they are in college. “The biggest thing we stress is the self-advocacy piece. Students need time to learn what it is. We tell students, “No one knows you and what you need better than you do,” says Rounds.
The one-day conferences are held on college campuses, and Rounds says they want to immerse students in what the campus environment will be like once they’re there: “We are trying to give them ‘College 101.’ This is what to do now to prepare.” Click HERE to learn more about Catch the College Wave!
