Post-Secondary Education: Questions and Answers

First, you need to determine what support services you will need to be successful in your post-secondary training. Your DVR case contact and the Student Services office at the school you are attending can help you with navigating supports for their services. But, if someone recommends a service, find out about the service and decide for yourself whether you think it will really help you.

Additionally, it is equally important that your DVR case contact agree that you need a particular service if DVR will be paying for any part of the service. It is important that you get your DVR case contact's permission in advance of receiving the service. If you do not get your DVR case contact agreement and permission before you receive a service, you may need to pay for it yourself.

Yes. For example, if the most cost effective way for you to get to and from classes is to take the bus (which costs $20 per month) but you would prefer to pay a friend to drive you back and forth and the friend insists on being paid $30 per month, DVR would pay the $20 and you would need to pay the extra $10 each month. But, the choice is yours.

Discuss this with your DVR case contact. If you select a type of service that is not the most cost-effective available, you will need to pay the extra costs.

Some disabilities require that the student take tests in separate rooms, that tests are read to the student by another person, or that extra time be allowed. These alternative methods of test taking sometimes require a special proctor be present. If you require alternative testing methods, the school is responsible for paying for their as taking tests is an intrinsic function of attending a class.

If you need someone to help you periodically through the day (including in the classroom) with toileting and eating, DVR is responsible for paying for that service.

If you need someone in the evening and in the morning before school to help you with self-care and dressing at home, that may be the responsibility of the long term support medical assistance. If it is a service which was performed for you prior to you attending school, you will have to pay for it yourself if you do not have other resources. If prior to attending school your parents did this for you, but now you need an attendant, then DVR is responsible for paying for this service.

If you require sign language interpreter services to attend school, the school is responsible for paying for those services for your classes and school activities.

DVR can pay for this service. Also, look at the Free White Cane Policy through the Office of Blind and Visually Impaired.

The school will pay for this, if it has been determined that it is an appropriate accommodation based on your disability. This is often handled using volunteers.

If you need a mentor, you will need to check whether the school provides this service free of cost to students with disabilities who are not DVR consumers. If it is provided free to other students, the school will pay for it for you. If other students must pay for it, then, DVR can help pay for it for you.

If the school sets up work sites for other students as a part of their training, the school will also find a work site for you. If you need worksite accommodations at one of these sites, the school will provide those accommodations.

If you have not worked before and need work experience as part of your training, but this service is not provided for students by the school, DVR will assist in finding a work site and paying for the experience.

If the school provides this service at no cost to students with disabilities who are not DVR consumers, then the school will also provide it for you without a cost.

If not, DVR will pay for specialized transportation, but your DVR case contact will ask you to explore different options. Would you prefer traveling by bus, by cab, or having a friend, neighbor, or relative drive you? Once you have explored all your options, DVR will pay the amount of the most cost-effective method available that meets your needs. You can pick which method you would like to use. If the method you choose is not the most cost-effective method, you will need to pay the extra cost.

This answer will depend on which school you are attending, whether they require all students to have computers, whether they have a computer lab available for students to use, and whether you require specialized hardware or software because of your disability. If you are concerned about this, discuss your particular situation with your DVR case contact.

This answer depends on whether you need the technology in the classroom to attend classes, or it is needed to get around campus. If you need it in the classroom or to participate in a school-sponsored activity (for instance, an adjustable table in the classroom), the school would be responsible. In this case, the device would remain in the classroom and would be the property of the school.

If you need it to get back and forth to campus, to get around campus, or in other situations outside of the classroom, DVR will pay for it.

If the text is required by a class, the school must pay to have it taped or Brailed. Likewise, the school must make class handouts and other required readings available to you in a format you can use. In these situations, however, you are responsible for buying the book which is being translated to another format.

If a book is recommended but not required, you will be required to explain to your DVR case contact why you feel you need it. If you and your case contact both agree that you should have it, DVR may pay for the cost of an alternative format.

Schools provide tutoring services free of charge to students who need them. Sometimes these services are only available a limited number of hours per week. Some schools provide group tutoring only. If the tutoring the school provides for other students meets your needs, then the school will pay for it. If you need a form of tutoring the school does not provide free of charge to other students, DVR will pay for it.