To help with the transition from high school to college or university, it is recommended that students with learning disabilities attend an orientation program that may be offered at their chosen post-secondary institution before the start of classes in September:
- Summer institutes are orientation programs for students with disabilities, so you can become familiar with the services available at the disability services office of your chosen post-secondary institution.
- These group and individual sessions help you understand your learning strengths, and provide you with information and tips on how to manage your learning challenges successfully in a post-secondary environment.
- These programs enable you to familiarize yourself with learning strategies and assistive technology that will help you become a successful student, and allow you to create a personalized accommodation plan that is related to your specific program requirements.
- Summer institute programs come under a variety of names (e.g. Slice, A Foot in the Door, PMC Intro, Online to Success). Some are online programs that are offered during the summer, some are one-day workshops, some are weekend orientation programs, while others are offered over a period of a week during the summer or before classes begin in the fall.
All summer institutes have the same objective:
- To make your transition into post-secondary studies easier.
- To provide you with tools and strategies to make your post-secondary experience a success.
Visit the website of the disability services office at your chosen post-secondary institution to see if they offer an orientation program for students with learning disabilities.