#099 Navigating College with Physical Disabilities and Health Conditions with Annie Tulkin

Flourish Coaching

Dec 5, 2023

In this episode, Lisa and Annie discuss:

The Disability Tax teens with physical disabilities and health conditions face as they begin their college journey.
Differences in accommodations and support for your student college.
How a college technically complying with federal law is different from being 100% accessible for all students and what your teen should consider.
The adulting skills your student will need to learn regarding their health conditions.

Key Takeaways:

The ADA provides for reasonable accommodations. However, those can look different at different universities and colleges and even between programs at the same university or college.
There is no perfect college for all students with similar disabilities. The right fit is the one the student chooses after having done the necessary research.
Of the schools surveyed by United Spinal, only 16 colleges and universities were 100% physically accessible. Understanding the level of accessibility can be very important for your student and their needs.
Manage your expectations – surprises will pop up in college.

“The ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, also applies to the workplace. So when your student is seeking accommodations in college, that’s a good training ground for thinking about what their needs might be later on once they graduate college and go into the workplace.” – Annie Tulkin

About Annie Tulkin:

Annie Tulkin is the Founder and Director of Accessible College, as well as an educator, author and public speaker. She is an expert in the area of college preparation and transition for students with physical disabilities and health conditions. She supports students and families across the country. Annie was the Associate Director of the Academic Resource Center at Georgetown University for nearly 6 years. In that position she supported undergraduate, graduate, and medical students with physical disabilities and health conditions and oversaw academic support services for the entire student body. Annie has worked in the disability field for her entire professional career including positions as a Regional Disability Coordinator for Humanitas, Inc. working on the Job Corps disability support contract for The Department of Labor, and as a Project Specialist with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) where she worked with both the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) and University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Technical Assistance projects. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University, a Masters in Special Education from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Certificate in Health Coaching from Georgetown University. Annie was a Peace Corps Volunteer (Mongolia, ‘03-’05) and a Fulbright Fellow (Mongolia, ‘07-’08). She resides in Silver Spring, MD with her husband and daughter.

Episode References:

Accessible College partnership with the Reeve Foundation

Navigating the Transition to College with Paralysis

United Spinal: Wheels on Campus-20 wheelchair-friendly campuses guide

Perkins School for the Blind-College Readiness Resource Center

How Can Students with Health Conditions Successfully Navigate the College Transition?

Job Accommodation Network

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career…(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

https://flourishcoachingco.com/video