Will my 504 plan transfer to college?

I have a 504 plan in high school and it helps a lot. I'm wondering if that will follow me when I start college or if I need to arrange something similar?

Yes, your 504 plan can be transferred to your college, as colleges and universities are required by law (specifically Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act) to provide accommodations to students with disabilities. However, the process in post-secondary education is different than K-12.

While in high school, the school district is responsible for recognizing a student's disability and providing accommodations, in college it's up to you to disclose your disability to your college's disability support services office, often called the Office of Disability Services or something similar. They'll typically request documentation (such as your 504 plan or doctor's evaluation) in order to understand your disability and how it affects your learning. The college will then work with you to identify appropriate accommodations.

Keep in mind that while the law requires colleges to provide necessary accommodations, they don't have to provide exactly the same accommodations detailed in your 504 plan if they believe there are other equally effective options. Plus, the types of accommodations used in college could be different from the ones used in high school.

It's a good idea to reach out to your prospective college as early as possible - preferably before you start there - to understand their process of providing accommodations to students with disabilities. Each college may have different procedures or requirements, so it's best to familiarize yourself with them ahead of time. The most important part is making sure you advocate for your needs so that you can have the best learning environment possible.