Kentucky College Disability Services After an IEP: What Changes and How to Prepare

An IEP does not follow your child to college. The legal framework shifts entirely — from IDEA's mandate that the school design a program to meet your child's needs, to the ADA's requirement that the college provide reasonable accommodations your child must request themselves.

What Changes at the College Door

In K-12, the school identifies, evaluates, and serves students with disabilities. The ARC develops the IEP, the school provides specialized instruction and related services, and parents drive the process.

At college, the student is the sole decision-maker. No ARC meetings. No mandated progress monitoring. No modified curriculum. The college's disability services office reviews documentation, determines eligibility for accommodations, and provides those accommodations — but only if the student registers, submits paperwork, and requests them through the institution's process.

The student must self-disclose their disability. Kentucky colleges cannot ask applicants whether they have a disability, and they have no obligation to provide accommodations to students who don't register with disability services.

What Documentation Colleges Need

Most Kentucky college disability services offices require:

• Documentation of the disability required by the institution, which may include a psychoeducational evaluation
• The most recent IEP or 504 plan
• The Summary of Performance (SOP) from the high school exit
• Any medical records relevant to the disability

The SOP is particularly important — it documents what accommodations worked in high school and provides recommendations for postsecondary settings. Push for a thorough SOP during the final ARC meeting, not a form with checked boxes.

Some colleges accept existing school documentation; others require additional or independent documentation. Check with each school's disability services office before graduation so there's time to obtain anything additional while the school district is still responsible.

Section 504 at the College Level

College accommodations fall under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA, not IDEA. Common accommodations include:

• Extended test time
• Reduced-distraction testing environments
• Note-taking services or recording permission
• Priority course registration
• Accessible course materials

What colleges do not provide: modified grading, curriculum changes, personal aides, or specialized instruction. The college must make its existing programs accessible, but it does not redesign them.

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Programs

For students with intellectual disabilities who want a college experience, Kentucky has Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs at select universities. These programs provide a structured college experience — academic courses (often audited), social integration, independent living skills, and employment preparation — without requiring standard admissions criteria.

Some CTP students may qualify for federal financial aid, depending on the program and current federal requirements. Ask the program about eligibility and enrollment requirements.

Students enrolled in CTP programs may also access Pre-Employment Transition Services through OVR if they are between ages 14 and 21, since Pre-ETS eligibility includes postsecondary students with disabilities.

Start the Conversation Before Senior Year

Contact the disability services office at your child's target college during junior year. Ask what documentation they require, whether they accept the school district's evaluation, and what the accommodation approval process looks like. This gives you time to request additional evaluations through the school — while they're still obligated to provide them — and ensures your child arrives on campus with everything in place.

The Kentucky IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a college transition checklist with the complete documentation timeline, CTP program details, and a side-by-side comparison of IDEA rights versus ADA accommodations.

See more Kentucky guides →