Next Steps

• The U.S. Department of Education’s Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education has some excellent information on your rights as you leave high school and begin postsecondary education.
• The PACER website provides a detailed explanation of Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act and how these laws guarantee your equal access to education.
• The Disability Law Center of Alaska has many publications about self-advocacy, benefits, legal rights and more.
• BestColleges.com has information about legal rights and assistive technologies for students with disabilities.

• Going to College is a resource for teens with disabilities that focuses on ways to think about what you want to do, what college life is like, and how you can plan for college.
• Think College has important information for students, families, and professionals about how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can succeed in higher education.
• The National Center for College Students With Disabilities lists a wide variety of resources for students with disabilities, including contact information for disability services programs at degree-granting colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and its territories.

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the main form you need to complete in order to get financial aid for postsecondary education.
• The U.S. Department of Education’s Financial Aid Resource Publications are manuals in English and Spanish that explain precisely how to apply for financial aid and what different types of financial aid you can get.

To apply for Vocational Rehabilitation services, visit a Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office.

The Aging and Disability Resource Centers in Alaska help seniors, people with disabilities, and their family members and caregivers find resources and services that meet their independent living, disability, housing, financial, legal, and health needs.

If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or CDB benefits, and you're looking for a job, a trained benefits planner can help you avoid complications when you are working on a job plan for your future. For questions or guidance specific to your situation, you can speak to someone at the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.