No one can assist you unless they know you want their assistance. Here are a few resources we urge you to contact.
1. Contact the disability support office at the university or college when you begin your college career. Find out what resources they have available to help you. Many state and private institutions have a disability support office or at least a disability services counselor.
2. Contact Student Support Services. Many tribal colleges do not have a program especially to support students with disabilities but they often have Student Support Services or a similar program to help at-risk students. Many larger colleges will have both kinds of programs. They offer tutoring, assistance preparing for standardized tests, such as GRE, GMAT (required for graduate school) or the CBEST or CSET (required for teacher education in many states).
3. Contact Native American Student Programs. Many larger colleges have a Native American student center along with a center for Latino students, African-American students, gay students and other specific groups. These programs don't usually have a specific program for students with disabilities, but we have noticed that many students find it easier to discuss their problems they are having in college with someone with whom they feel comfortable. If you are from a reservation, you probably will meet someone else at the Native American Center who understands about being homesick, how big the college seems next to the high school you attended, the things people say in class about Indians that you find really offensive, but you don't speak up because there are 60 of them and only the one of you....Making a connection with other people can help in itself. The staff at centers like these should be very aware of all of the services on campus and can put you in touch with the right person. Also, you may get an appointment more quickly and get to see the right person if someone who is on staff at the university calls instead of 'just a student'.
4. Contact the vocational rehabilitation office. They can help you complete financial aid forms, pay for a computer, calculator or books not covered by your financial aid and even sometimes give you gas money to get to class. Many reservations have a tribal vocational rehabilitation that serves enrolled members. Tribal members with a disability can get services from either the tribal program or the state vocational rehabilitation program. If you aren't satisfied the the state program, you can go to the tribal program, or the other way around.
Keep this in mind for all oof the programs mentioned above, as well as any others that may be available on your campus. It is not necessarily that one program is better than the other. One may have a counselor who understands your particular needs better. The important thing is that you don't get discouraged and give up.
What kinds of assistance can you receive?