Resource Library

Prospective college students with disabilities will find that many campuses are equipped with offices and services that address accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology for a diverse range of needs. Student services offices and disability coordinators at many colleges work to make campuses inclusive environments through specialized advocacy, support, and academic services.

An article on the greater demand for accommodation, which can be attributed primarily to the fact that many current college students received either an Individualized Education Program (IEP; as is required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990; IDEA) or a service plan (as is required by Section 504) while in elementary and secondary schools, and have become increasingly aware of their rights to accommodation while in higher education.

Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the tasks, environment or to the way things are usually done that enable individuals with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to participate in an academic program or a job (U.S. Department of Education, 2007).

Many students with juvenile arthritis and related rheumatic diseases (JA) require testing accommodations in order to participate in testing programs on an equal basis with their peers. Such accommodations provide students with JA to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability.

Disability.gov is the federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations.

How to Prepare for College with a Chronic Disease: A Timeline of Tips for High Schoolers

One page overview on common college testing accommodations for students with juvenile arthritis and related rheumatic diseases.

This document explains the legal obligations that postsecondary institutions have toward students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act.

Starting college can be stressful. You may be away from home for the first time. Maybe you miss your family and friends. And it may take you time to adjust to new surroundings, new teachers, and new friends. All these things can make you feel alone, overworked, and stressed out. The following is information concerning your mental health.

Tap into a wealth of resources related to college and employment options for people with disabilities. Vocational rehabilitation is a state-supported division of services that assists individuals with disabilities who are pursuing meaningful careers. Information provided by www.askjan.org

To make educational and career goals easier to obtain, AbbVie has established the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship, open only to exceptional students living with inflammatory diseases as they pursue goals of higher education. Applicants must submit proof of being diagnosed with one of the listed inflammatory diseases, including JIA, RA, AS, PsA. Also, required is proof of enrolling in an accredited, U.S.-based institution for the 2017-18 academic year.

The AAHD Scholarship Program supports students with disabilities pursuing higher education. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research. Royalties from the DHJO and private donations fund the AAHD Scholarship Program.

ARTHRITIS CHAMPIONS SCHOLARSHIP

A college scholarship for students with rheumatic diseases.

The Arthritis Champions Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students with arthritis or a related rheumatic disease who: 1) impact the arthritis community, serving as positive role models and leaders; 2) live their best life, while empowering others to do the same.
The Arthritis Champions Scholarship is generously funded by Dr. & Mrs. Walter J. Winterhoff and Dr. Smriti Bardhan.

CAPED is a professional association of faculty, staff and students, serving students with disabilities at California's institutions of higher education. They sponsor several scholarships.

A general overview of available funding types for students applying to college.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The CEC Student Awards and Scholarships recognize outstanding student members and chapter advisors who make outstanding contributions to CEC and to exceptional children. (You must become a CEC member to apply for a scholarship.)

This site lists an array of funding opportunities for people with disabilities.

Fastweb is the premier online resource for paying and preparing for college. Fastweb members are matched to relevant scholarship opportunities completely free of charge. With roughly 1.5 million scholarships worth more than $3.4 billion, there are scholarships for every student’s educational goals, activities and interests.

On this page, you'll find information about scholarships and fellowships for students with disabilities.

The purpose of this program is to foster an interest among students in the areas of basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, or behavioral research relevant to lupus under the sponsorship and supervision of an established, tenure-track Principal Investigator who directs a laboratory dedicated at least in part to the investigation of lupus at a U.S. academic, medical, or research institution.

HEATH is a national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. Its annual publication on financial aid is available to download at their website

The annual SpinLife Innovation in Motion Scholarship program is designed to aid college students in their academic endeavors. The annual program will provide one $500 scholarship and is open to students who are manual or power wheelchair users enrolled at an accredited 4-year institution.

The Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence (L.I.F.E) realizes the obstacles a student with Lupus faces, and was created to help these students achieve their academic goals by providing financial and educational assistance.

Mays Mission offers scholarships to deserving individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. To qualify for a Mission scholarship one must be able to document a significant disability, score of 18 or better on the A.C.T or 870 on S.A.T., be enrolled in a four-year study program (under-graduate only) working toward a baccalaureate degree and provide proof of enrollment.

From www.affordablecolleges.com, here is a list of scholarships for students with disabilities.

The purpose of this scholarship program is to provide support to individuals, under the age of 25, who have been diagnosed with or treated for cancer and/or a chronic/life threatening disease within the past five years.

SMART Scholar is a scholarship search engine to help you find the perfect scholarship for your needs.

Aimed at children, teens, and young adults between the ages of 12-21 who are survivors of pediatric cancer or another life-threatening illness. Apply for the Andre Sobel Award and reflect on your journey with illness. Tell them your story so that others may find comfort, support, guidance – and even humor – from your experience. The first prize winner receives $5,000 to use in any way he or she wishes, perhaps to pursue a cherished dream not possible during illness.

When you become an adult, your experience at the doctor’s office and the hospital might be different from what
you are used to. This fact sheet explains some of the changes you might notice

Learn how to take an active role in your own health care by being confident when speaking with your doctor or other health care professional.

A simple way of talking to your doctors and other health care professionals using the GLADD (Give, Listen, Ask, Decide, and Do) Approach.

An 18-minute video that helps teach youth and young adults how to communicate effectively with health care providers.

A general guide on the importance of talking to your doctor about your emotional and physical health.

Turning 18 may not make you feel any different,
but legally, this means you are an adult.

Information on how to communicate well with your health care providers and how to schedule medical appointments.

Advice and tips on how to talk to friends, family members, and others about your disease.

A worksheet that will help you prepare to talk to others about your disease. This could be peers, significant others, family members, or others.

A parent’s role in a teen’s adjustment to his or her illness is critical. In addition to the health and medical care a parent helps provide, there are some important efforts parents can make to ensure their child’s adjustment to their illness. These efforts can go a long way in helping teens, and their parents, carry on through the challenges of illness.

Learn about some of the challenges of living as a teen with a chronic disease and ways to deal with these ups and downs.

A guide for parents to help children manage stress, depression and anxiety through building resilience — the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and stress.

How to find the resources you need to help your child cope with juvenile arthritis at school.

Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. Learn about what bullying is, how to recognize the warning signs of this problem, and how to talk to your child about it.

10 tips for teens on how to build resilience — the ability to adapt well in the face of stress, tragedy, and chronic disease.

Bullying stops us from being who we want to be, and prevents us from expressing ourselves freely, and might even make us feel unsafe. If you are bullied, say something! If you are bullying, it’s not cool!

This website gives you tools and information on health coverage, benefits, and employment. You can plan ahead and learn how work and benefits go together.

Discusses the basics of finding a job or an internship as a teen and includes a list of online resources for teens with special needs.

A workbook that provides expertise about disclosing a disability in the workforce, in school, and in social situations.

Disability.gov is the federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations.

Take charge of planning and
managing your own health and career goals

Tap into a wealth of resources related to employment options for people with disabilities. Vocational rehabilitation is a state-supported division of services that assists individuals with disabilities who are pursuing meaningful careers. Information provided by www.askjan.org

Read about a variety of Vocational Rehab Success Stories from around the USA

A general overview and resources on vocational rehabilitation.

Through this specialized search tool, you can locate helpful resources, obtain key contact information, and learn more detailed information such as specific services offered.

Health care transition means moving from pediatric (child) to adult health care.
A good transition takes planning. This handout tells you how to get started.

Discusses some possible benefits of moving to adult health care and some of the differences you will experience when this transition happens.

Information about insurance benefits, how to contact your insurance company, how to keep track of insurance information and how to find insurance. (Warning – some of the health insurance resources are only for residents of Illinois, so check the link before you click!)

If you’re under 30, you can get health coverage a few different ways, some designed specifically for you. With a range of plan types and costs, it’s not hard to find insurance that works for you.

Premiums, co-pays, deductibles, in-network, out-of-network — welcome to the world of health insurance.

Learn about different health insurance coverage options for young adults

How to create and use your own 3-sentence health summary.

MyHealth Passport is a customized, wallet-size card that gives you instant access to your pediatric medical information. It can be used when you go to a new doctor, visit an emergency room, etc. If you don't see your disease listed (JIA is not here yet), use the "Generic Passport."

If you are a teen that is beginning to take a more active role in your own health, check out the Teen Care Notebook. This is a modified version of the Care Notebook for Parents and only includes the things a teen might need. It is a great way to stay on top of things and organize information about your health condition and treatments in one place. You can also use it to share information with your parents, doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals.

A Care Notebook is a tool that can help you organize important information about your child or teen. Bring the notebook to appointments and meetings, so you can easily share information with doctors, therapists, and school or child care. staff.

Tips and tools to help teens or parents or caregivers of children and teens with special health care needs to plan, organize, coordinate, and keep track of everything.

Information on many drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. Includes uses, side effects, what to do if you miss a dose, etc. Read up on your medications and talk with your doctor if you have questions!

Information on how to fill or refill a prescription at your pharmacy.

Information on several medications that are commonly used to treat rheumatic diseases (such as arthritis and lupus).

Create your own medication schedule and receive free reminders by email or text.

Things to know about your medications and how to remember to take them.

Although there is no diet cure for arthritis, certain foods have been shown to fight inflammation, strengthen bones and boost the immune system. Adding these foods to your balanced diet may help ease the symptoms of your arthritis.

Eight healthy eating goals, tips for balancing calories to manage weight, food safely information.

Tips and recipes for following a low-salt diet, great for anyone who has kidney disease or takes prednisone.

Clear tips for healthy eating.

Find out which medications are OK to take when you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.

Bedsider.org is an online birth control support network for women 18-29 operated by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a private non-profit organization. Its goal is to help women find the method of birth control that’s right for them and learn how to use it consistently and effectively.

Links to resources designed to help parents talk with their teens about healthy sexuality.

Information for parents on parent-teen relationships, talking with kids about sexuality, puberty, and much more.

Excellent website with information for teens on sexuality, sexual health, relationships and pregnancy. You can also chat live with a health educator and post questions anonymously.

As a woman with lupus, it is important to work with your doctor to monitor your reproductive health. However, the most important reproductive health issues for you to consider will change as you move through life.

Resources for coping with stress in college.

Explains the causes of stress, effects of stress on the body, and ways to manage stress.

Links to information on causes of stress, signs of stress, and stress management for teens.

Articles on teen stress and anxiety disorders for parents and teens.

Information on causes of stress, signs of stress overload, and stress management for teens.

Christine Miserandino’s personal story and spoon analogy of what it is like to live with sickness or disability.

Este libro se trata de Ud. y su vida…quien es
Ud. ahora y lo que quiere hacer en el futuro.
También incluye cierta información y actividades
que le ayudarán a entender lo que signifi ca estar
legalmente a cargo de su cuidado de salud, y a ser activo, saludable, y poder hacer más de las cosas que quiere ahora y en el futuro.

This book is about you and your life…who you are
now and what you want to do in the future. It also
includes some information and gives you some
activities to do that will help you understand what
it means to be legally in charge of your health care, and help you be active, healthy and able to do more of the things you want to do now and in the future.

The Youthhood Web site is a dynamic, curriculum-based tool that can help young adults plan for life after high school.

Transition means changing from one thing to another, such as changing from a teen to an adult. Every teen must plan for transition. For youth with special health care needs, transition planning may take more time. This handout describes ways that parents can help their teens to become more independent.

What is transition? Transition means changing from one thing to another, such as changing from a teen to an adult. You will learn, grow and change in lots of different ways as you become an adult.

Utilice cualquiera de los siguientes documentos para determinar las habilidades que el niño o adolescente tiene y las habilidades que necesitan para mejorar. Usted encontrará sugerencias para ayudar a guiarlo en cómo adquirir o mejorar sus habilidades.

These tools can help you look at the skills you already have and to think about other skills that you may need to work on such as money management, travel safety, managing stress, and more.

A great list of transition-related resources for young people with chronic illnesses and their family members.

Transition is never easy, however this process is usually more difficult for young adults with special health care needs who have been receiving care from specialized pediatric treatment settings and providers. This video looks at how Jim and his family prepared for health care transition and their current efforts to complete the process.

Voices of teens with disabilities and parents talking about their transition to college and independent living.

Transitioning from children's care to adult care can be scary. This film talks you through the process and offers guidance for parents and teenagers on this journey.