Post-secondary Education: Academic Programs

Academic programming or advanced classroom training typically occurs through colleges and universities – either on-campus or on-line via distance education. Enrolment in such programs necessitates completion of secondary school programs and competence in basic literacy skills. However, some postsecondary academic programs offer not-for-credit courses that are remedial in nature to help prepare individuals for enrolment in for-credit higher education or postsecondary programs.

These remedial courses are sometimes called parallel studies or developmental courses. In many instances, colleges and universities require pre-admission assessments to determine whether or not incoming students have the competencies required for admission.

For students with disabilities, it is critical to investigate what options are available on-campus or through the distance education offerings for accessibility.

If you are planning to attend classes in person, you’ll want to know if there is a Disabled Student Services office on-campus and, if so, what resources are available to you. Does the office provide reader or scribe services, braille or large print copying services or test proctoring? Does it facilitate communication with professors, offer early registration, or facilitate student support groups or tutoring services? If classes are only offered online, are they accessible with screen reading or screen enlargement technology?

Find out if other students who are blind or partially sighted are currently enrolled so that you can make contact with them. If you are considering enrolment in a postsecondary academic program, be sure to review the Postsecondary Academic Programs Checklist

The goal of postsecondary academic training is to receive a degree or certificate that indicates you have successfully completed a program of study designed to prepare you for a career or to allow you to enter the next level of training required for licensure or certification in a career field. Make sure that you complete all of the coursework required to acquire the knowledge you will need in your chosen career – this often includes completion of practicum experiences or internship requirements. Find out what’s needed/wanted in your career field and match your training to the required skills and knowledge.​​​​​