Transition to College: Preparing Students to Navigate the Post-Secondary Terrain
Susan B. Woods, M.Ed. (Retired Associate Dean, Student Support Services, Middlesex Community College): "Transition to College: Preparing Students to Navigate the Post-Secondary Terrain."
This event is free and open to everyone.
A large parking lot is available across the street from O’Leary on the corner of Wilder and Broadway (access on Wilder). After 4:30 p.m. the barrier to this lot should be raised and you are able to park in there for free.
Objectives of this presentation:
- Defining and understanding applicable laws in post-secondary settings
- Discussing the process for determining eligibility, documentation and requesting accommodations
- Discussing the concept of “reasonable accommodations” in post-secondary settings and what to expect
- Assisting students and families to prepare for the transition to college/post-secondary environments
- Identifying questions to ask college/post-secondary programs
- Learning about resources and alternative programs to traditional academic college pathways
Susan B. Woods M.Ed, retired Associate Dean, Student Support Services at Middlesex Community College, BS in Special Education from Boston University and M.Ed from Northeastern University in Rehabilitation Administration.
Susan has spent the last 27 years at Middlesex Community College managing the Transition Program and Disability Support Services, as well as overseeing the college's Federally funded TRIO student support programs, Counseling and Consultation services and coordinating the Student Assessment Intervention Team with the office of the Dean of Students.
Prior to coming to Middlesex, Susan worked at the Department of Mental Retardation and Mental Health—now the Department of Developmental Services—and was involved with the Turning 22 transition planning initiative, and the early stages of development of community based individual service planning. For the past 9 years, Susan has also been an adjunct faculty, teaching an online section of Developmental Disabilities in the Psychology and Education Department at Middlesex Community College.
A significant part of Susan's work has included providing professional development and training to college faculty to promote and support their use of teaching strategies and approaches using principles of universal design for instruction. The goal of this work is to create and support inclusive pedagogies and create a welcoming environment to support the success of diverse learners. Susan has also provided workshops and professional development training at local high schools. This training is provided to special educators, transition specialists and guidance department staff, as well as parents and students, on how to prepare and support the transition of individuals with disabilities to post-secondary education.
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