Education and Training

There are many benefits to education beyond high school, including social interaction, exposure to cultural activities, and personal growth. The primary reason to pursue a college education or technical training is to prepare for your future work life. Your career goal will guide you in selecting the degree or certificate you need to pursue a job in your chosen field. If you have not yet set your career goals, go back to Goals, Career: Assessment, or CAREER Exploration.

About 30% of all jobs require a 4-year college degree. This percentage has been relatively constant for the last twenty years. In that same period, jobs requiring only a high-school diploma have diminished dramatically. Most jobs today require some kind of training beyond high school. Several non-college training options are available. In addition to formal education and training programs, paid and unpaid work experience will help you determine if your career goal is a good fit for you, provide you with workplace competencies that will help you in any job, and give you valuable experience that will make you an attractive candidate when you apply for a job. See CAREER: Community-Based Learning and Enrichment Opportunities.

Planning for College: Selecting the right college and course of study is a major effort. There is no consistent programming at the college level for students with disabilities, which complicates the process of selecting a program that fits your needs. Here are some things to consider:

• Plan ahead so that you will be able to take required high school courses now. Often students are disqualified for admission because they have not taken the courses needed for their chosen field.
• Investigate admissions criteria and procedures carefully. You may need more detailed information from your high school to demonstrate your ability to handle college-level work.
• Find out the procedure for requesting accommodations. Unlike high school, accommodations at post-secondary institutions must be specifically requested. While you are still in high school, request an assessment based on adult criteria: this will be needed to qualify for accommodations for college. You will need to be your own advocate to receive the services to meet your needs.
• Consider pacing your course of study by taking an extra semester or year to complete your degree to increase your chances of success.

Information on specific courses in high schools and Piedmont Virginia Community College is available through the Central Virginia Tech Prep Consortium in tables in pdf format.

The Virginia Department of Education has created a very comprehensive College Guide for Students with Disabilities.

Virginia College Quest is a guide to college success for students with disabilities.