Keenan, W. R., Madaus, J. W., Lombardi, A. R., & Dukes, L. L., III. (2019). Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act on documentation for students with disabilities in transition to college: Implications for practitioners . Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals , 42 (1), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143418809691

Federal law and guidance were described on addressing the needs of students with disabilities, upon transition from secondary to postsecondary education, for access supports including accommodations.

The researcher reviewed the policy environment under the federal Department of Justice (U.S.) pertaining to needed information, including summary of performance (SOP), for facilitating access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities in the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) guidance.

In this policy analysis, the researcher described the information that secondary education professionals can provide, including students' summaries of performance, for successful transition of students into the postsecondary education setting.

The ADAAA of 2008 and AHEAD guidance has provided information on documentation—on self-reported functional limitations, evaluations of accommodations previously used, individual education program (IEP) plans, summaries of performance (SOPs), and other assessments from professionals—that can be examined for assisting students with disabilities to access postsecondary education, including through academic accommodations. In addition, the regulations published in the Federal Register in August 2016 by the U.S. Department of Justice has provided additional guidance on the definition of disability and an explanation of the implications on appropriate practices for identifying accommodations. The central role of each postsecondary student with disabilities, in terms of self-determination and self-advocacy, was described. Additional online resources that support postsecondary transition were provided, including from national centers: National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT), and PACER National Parent Center on Transition and Employment.