About Elizabeth C. Hamblet
Background
Elizabeth is considered a leading expert on preparing students with disabilities for successful college transition. Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities (Bloomsbury, 2023) her popular book, is in its third edition and has sold thousands of copies. Schools and organizations all over the country invite Elizabeth to speak because her experience (she’s worked in college disability services offices for more than 20 years) gives her insights into the college disability services system that allow her to provide information and nuance others can’t.
Her path to her current work began when Elizabeth moved from working as a high school special education teacher to a learning disability specialist position at the college level in the late 1990s. Beginning with this role in a college disability services office, she saw the lack of preparation students had had for the transition – they were unaware of how the system for accommodations changed and for what accommodations weren’t available. Some lacked self-awareness and self-advocacy skills. Elizabeth realized that she herself had not prepared her own high school students for this, since none of her training covered how things shifted once students enrolled at college.
At her second university job, Elizabeth saw this lack of preparation was common, and she decided to do what she could to help inform students, families, and professionals about the changes at the college level, so that preparation could be informed by facts, and begin early. In 2008, Elizabeth began offering programs to families and professionals on transition to college for students with disabilities. She is a requested presenter for school districts, organizations, and national conferences. (See the topics she covers and book a presentation here.) In addition to being a speaker, Elizabeth is also a contributing writer for Disability Compliance for Higher Education, a journal for higher education disability professionals. Her work has also appeared in several journals and on online platforms.
She is now working at her third university, where she enjoys helping students with time management, organization, reading, and study skills. See her detailed CV below.
Ways to learn from Elizabeth:
Explore the free blog on this site with dozens of posts offering foundational information about changes in the college disability services system.
Watch helpful webinars, Q&As, and get tips and advice on her free Youtube channel.
Subscribe to Elizabeth’s free twice-monthly newsletter to get college transition content delivered to your inbox and/or subscribe to her free Substack where she responds to questions and situations she sees in her work to provide helpful contextual understanding of the college environment.
To gain an even deeper understanding:
Read Elizabeth book, Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities to get a detailed guide through the college preparation process.
Read her 6-page concise guide for a brief overview of important college transition topics
Bring Elizabeth’s knowledge and insights to your school, district, or organization by booking a presentation. (See highlights from one of Elizabeth’s keynotes on that page.)
Prefer watching to reading? View Elizabeth’s on-demand webinars.
Professional Experience
College Learning Consultant
2011-current
- Help undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities with their study skills, organization, time management, and specific strategies based on their learning needs
- Screen struggling students for possible learning disabilities and/or ADD and advise them on next steps
- Review disability documentation as part of the accommodation approval process
Professional Speaker
2008-current Hired by dozens of school systems and professional groups to make presentations on the topic of transition to college for students with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD. See Elizabeth’s Speaking page to see what topics she can cover and book a presentation.Freelance Writer
2007-current
- Choose topics and develop articles for Disability Compliance for Higher Education, a monthly journal for college disability services professionals.
- Recent contributions can be found on Elizabeth’s Articles page
College Expert at Understood
2015-2019
- Wrote and contributed to articles focused on college and edited articles written by others for accuracy
- Participated in video Q&A’s with Understood staff
Learning Disabilities Consultant
2008-2014, Elliot Gursky, M.D. & Associates, Princeton, NJ
Conducted testing of clients’ academic skills using Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement and other relevant protocols as part of complete psychoeducational battery in conjunction with Dr. Steven Kennelly
Learning Disabilities Specialist
2000-2007, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
- Analyzed LD and ADHD documentation for LD/ADHD Documentation Review Committee, and served as Chair, 2003-2007
- Rewrote policy manual & reconceived and wrote content for website to clarify documentation procedures and provide useful information to prospective students and their parents
- Revised documentation standards for learning disabilities and ADHD keeping up with current research
- Created and presented workshops to staff.
1996-1999, Simmons College, Boston, MA
- Delivered one-on-one tutorial to undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder
- Reviewed all documentation for students with learning disabilities and ADHD
- Interpreted and explained diagnostic evaluations to newly identified students with learning disabilities
Special Education Teacher
1996-1999, Masconomet Regional High School, Topsfield, MA
Chaired Team meetings and wrote Individualized Educational Plans for students on caseload. Supervised implementation of plans. Co-taught History class.
EDUCATION
- Master’s Degree, Moderate Special Needs 5-12, Simmons College, 1995
- Master’s Degree, The Art of Teaching English, Tufts University, 1991
- Bachelor’s Degree, English, Tufts University, 1990
Additional Training
- Certified as Learning Disabilities Teacher – Consultant, State of New Jersey
- Completed certificate program in Orton-Gillingham, Mass. General Hospital, Boston, 1997
