Spring/Summer Preparation
Readiness
Relationships with parents change dramatically at this transitional juncture. The high
school’s obligation under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) implies success and pushes
for parental involvement. In college, no guarantees of success are in place and, although
they are important players in the transition piece, parents are asked to cheer from the
sidelines and not to remain “guides at the helm.” This is a difficult step for many parents. It
may mean that their son/daughter will make mistakes or experience failure, but it
ultimately facilitates the partnership and dialogue between the student and his/her
professors and administrators at the college.
If a parent has specific expectations regarding academic performance and behaviors, these
should be discussed with the student before he/she leaves home at the end of summer. It
is realistic to assume that the student can receive a passing grade in all courses in the first
semester. The college offers many resources to support its students. However, it is not
necessarily realistic to expect the student to continue to maintain his/her high school GPA
in the first year.