Triton College Hosts Forum to Support Neurodiverse Students and Families in College Transition
RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Triton College is hosting a forum focused on assisting neurodiverse students and their families in preparing for a successful college experience.
Scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Library (A Building), attendees will hear firsthand from a panel of parents and students who will share insights, personal stories, and practical tips for navigating the transition to college.
The event, titled Understanding Accommodations in College, is a collaboration between the Triton College Center for Access and Accommodative Services (CAAS) and the Triton College Library.
Are you a parent navigating the transition to college with a neurodiverse student? Do you have questions about what the Triton experience looks like for you and your student?
Dominique Dial, CAAS Director, encourages students and parents to attend the forum to learn, ask questions, and connect with others on a similar journey.
“This may look very different than what you had in high school,” she said. “We think this event would be of interest to any high school students who may have accommodations, their parents, or whoever supports them.”
Dial added that panelists will offer tips to Triton newcomers based on lived experience and share insights they wish they had known when they transitioned to college.
Neurodiversity is a term that has gained traction in academia as a movement that embraces variations in brain function not as deficits, but as strengths. Triton College has placed a strong focus on creating accessible learning spaces and encouraging all types of learning and thinking.
Dial’s office provides students with support both in and out of the classroom to help them achieve academic success. Services include testing accommodations, sign language interpreters, audio textbooks, and speech-to-text software. Located directly beneath the library is the Academic Success Center, a flexible space for all learners.
“Libraries should be at the forefront of finding ways to help everyone feel empowered to learn and discover,” said Shekinah Lawrence, chair of the Triton College Library.
Dial said her office sees more and more students each year seeking accommodations, and she believes a key driver behind that growth is simply students becoming more aware of what support is available.
“Maybe they didn’t get this message when they were in high school, or maybe they didn’t think they would need accommodations,” she said. “We just want everyone to understand that when they come to Triton, we’re here for you.”
Light snacks will be provided and activity spaces will be available for children ages 3–16. The event is free, but registration is required to attend.
For more information on the event and how to register, click here.
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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820
ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE
Triton College is an institution of higher education dedicated to student success.
Triton offers more than 120 degree and certificate programs designed for students
to realize their career aspirations and effectively compete in a global economy. The
college campus spans 110 acres in River Grove, Illinois, holds classes at satellite
locations and offers online learning opportunities. Triton’s exemplary faculty and
staff work to provide high-quality, convenient and affordable educational opportunities
to more than 10,000 students each year. Triton College is a member of The Community
Colleges of Illinois and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Learn more
at triton.edu.