the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, colleges and universities have a lawful responsibility to encourage and develop the potential of all students, regardless of disability status. Unfortunately, the vast majority of four year colleges and universities fall short of providing students with disabilities the support they need. Considering that 1 in 5 individuals have a learning disability or attention issue, and many more have physical disabilities or live with the effects of traumatic brain injury and other long-term or permanent disabilities, the lack of support services at four-year colleges does not receive nearly enough attention.
20% off all web services with Spark Driven https://1.sparkdriven.com/aff.php?aff=3
Enter Ramapo College of New Jersey, where support services for students with disabilities is not just a focus for those who qualify, it is part of the College’s DNA.
Four and six-year graduation rates across all student groups are an important metric for students and families to consider. A strong graduation rate often correlates to strong institutional support systems and individualized services like tutoring, advisement, and mentorship. At Ramapo College, these systems and supports are hallmarks of the student experience and, not surprisingly, the public college boasts graduation rates for students with disabilities that consistently exceed the national average.
Ramapo College’s commitment to providing top-notch disability services dates back to 1971, predating the two most significant disability accommodation laws – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The College’s Office of Specialized Services (OSS) was formed as part of the institution’s mission to provide equal access and integrate all students into campus life. Now, while all colleges are federally required to offer a baseline of disability accommodations, they are not obligated to provide the personalized help students were accustomed to in high school.
Ramapo College has the resources, and regularly seeks the necessary funding, to ensure that students with disabilities thrive academically and fully engage in the college community. Since 1976, the college has been a regular recipient of the U.S. Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services grant, ensuring that qualified students can access essential support services at no cost. This includes academic advisement and guidance, tutoring, computer instruction, independent living counseling, among others.
Ramapo College also boasts a specialty offshoot program, ENHANCE, which is focused on students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ENHANCE is a therapeutic support program that takes a holistic approach, focusing on the social, emotional, and organizational growth of students with ASD, and helps them adapt and flourish in college and beyond. The program offers weekly counseling, weekly group meetings, peer mentoring, social events, academic workshops, and parent consultations. ENHANCE also offers additional services and resources to support our students over and above what is required under current disability law.
Students with disabilities attend four-year colleges at half the rate of their peers. Often, those that do attend do not receive the specialized attention that they need to thrive. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, 94% of students with learning disabilities receive accommodations in high school, but only 17% of those pursuing education beyond high school graduation get the services they deserve.
