Family members are valuable resources on your student’s support team, especially students with disabilities. We encourage you to become familiar with WSU’s rich academic landscape and dynamic campus environment.

  

Here are a few ways you can offer support and encouragement to your student in their transition to college and help them achieve independence:

• Encourage your student to connect with Access Services

• Help your student by letting them set up an on-campus or phone appointment to learn more about resources for students with disabilities at access@winona.edu or 507.457.5878

• Allow your student to take ownership of their disability by getting the most recent copy of their documentation ready to share with Access Services. We have found that students whose parents did all the work are less likely to actually use the services that are available to them.

• Encourage your student to get involved in clubs or community activities

• Offer support to your student as they figure out how to navigate the college system

• Encourage your students to seek out the help they need from on and off-campus resources

• You have been their best advocate to this point. Thank you! Your student will benefit greatly from becoming their own self-advocate. For more ideas, see Self Advocacy (PDF).

• Find general information for parents and families of Winona State University students

• Helpful information for parents of students with disabilities can be found in the Access Service’s Parent’s Guide to College (PDF)