Dear Parent:

The office of Disability Support Services (DSS) welcomes your son or daughter to AU! This is an exciting time and you will hear many people talk about the transition from high school to college. As parents, you can help with your son or daughter's transition to college by

• becoming knowledgeable about disability support at the post-secondary level and at AU
• being available to talk about disability-related issues and specifically how they relate to your son or daughter's situation
• start to transfer the responsibility for managing their needs to your son or daughter (e.g., provide them with a copy of their documentation; suggest reviewing the DSS Web site)
• emphasize the importance of appropriate self-disclosure and self-advocacy and provide opportunities for practicing these skills, e.g., encourage students to begin confidential communication with DSS in the summer before arrival.

We look forward to working with you son or daughter. DSS is here to help so please do not hesitate to contact us.