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Getting Started and Moving Forward!Postsecondary Education
Deborah Zuver, CIDD Advocacy ProgramsDonna Yerby, CIDD Special Education/Services
Renate Macchirole, Benchmarks Program Coordinator
NC Postsecondary Education Alliance
NC Postsecondary Education AllianceEDUCATORS, AGENCY REPS, LEGISLATORS, YOUTH LEADERS & FAMILIES
WORKING TOGETHER
Increasing options &opportunities for studentswith intellectual disabilities
Continuing education Employment Independent livingQuality of lifePolicy changes
www.cidd.unc.edu/psea
→ Become familiar with inclusive PSE opportunities on college campus→ Identify PSE experiences that lead to meaningful employment → Learn about strategies and supports for developing and sustaining PSE programs
Objectives
Postsecondary Education:
Education after high school; “college experience” has not been available to these students until recent years
–Services under IDEA through age 21–Accommodations/alternative
assessments–Alternative diploma track
Higher Education Opportunity Act:New Provisions
•Financial Aid–Pell Grants–Federal Work-study program
• Model Demonstration Programs (27)
• National Coordinating Center • Certified Transition Programs (14+)
What about
students with
intellectual
disabilities going to
college?
Overview of PSE - Nationally• Less than 25% of students with I/DD
have participated in any form of PSE
• 6,000 students currently enrolled
• Approx. 215 programs in 42 states
Why is college important for students with ID?
Postsecondary Education
Inclusive opportunities and outcomes
Human Rights
Employment
Independent living
Quality of life
How PSE Experience Can Affect Employment Possibilities
PSE for students with IDD
32%
19%18%
16%
12%
3%
Employment
Independent Living
College course access
Life skills instruction
Self-determination
Social skills
Hart, Grigal, Weir (in press). A national survey of Findings of a national survey of postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities.
Work-based Learning: Inclusive Opportunities
• Interest inventories and assessments
• Community partnerships for employment
• Course selection related to employment goals
• On-campus jobs; work-study opportunities
• Specialized curriculum leading to certificate
• Internships and job-based instruction
• Transition: job coach
Paid Employment Youth who participated in PSE were
26% more likely to leave Vocational Rehabilitation with paid employment
Earned a 73% higher weekly income
Individuals need greater access to PSE supported by Vocational Rehabilitation
Data Set: RSA 911Migliore, A., Butterworth, J., & Hart, D. 2009. Postsecondary Education
and Employment Outcomes for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities. Fast Facts Series, No. 1. Boston, MA: Institute for Community Inclusion
Impact on Employment
Youth with I/DD whose parents expected they would be employed were 28 times more likely to have enrolled in PSE after leaving high school than youth whose parents did not expect employment.
(Papay, 2011)
Predictors of Employment
The only post-high school transition goal in IEPs that was a predictor of employment for students with ID was having the goal of attending a two or four year college.
11% of students with ID had this goal
A Standards-Based Conceptual Framework
Funding Sources used by students
Private pay 46%State VR funds 14%Other funding sources 13%Scholarships 9%Local Education Agency 7%Federal/State grant 7%Tuition waived 5%Social Security funds 3%
Moving Forward• Increase public
awareness• Create system change
that builds capacity• Develop support
systems for students on the autism spectrum
• Support PSE options in all NC geographic areas
• Demonstrate outcomes in terms of students, campus community, families, state service needs/budget, increased diversity
• Identify funding sources
Getting started: Community Collaboration
• Enlisting champions• Business leaders• Youth advocates• College Admin & HR• School system• Commissioners• Local news
• Local representatives• Group home directors• Support services• Parents
P.A.C.E.Pathways to an Accessible College Experience
• The passion behind our mission• Taking your story to local advocates for
support• Create the proposal and present to local stakeholders for buy in
Student Recruitment
• Day programs (Monarch Beach and Lighthouse Club)
• Group homes • High schools• Knowing folks in your community in the who would benefit from PSE
Challenges• Structural difference college setting and day group
settings• Coordination between various programs, caregivers, and college schedule • Transportation• Must provide constant reassurance and
communication open with caregivers
Screening and Admitting
• Students complete official PACE program application
• Application is reviewed/approved by team at COA
• Interview potential students and caregivers for selection process and limit pool of students to five students per new cohort
Launching your Program
• Invite community leaders\stakeholders to event
• Utilize local radio stations with PSA’s• Newspapers\ online resources• Have students present at commissioner
meetings• Seek support from local rotary clubs, advocacy
groups
Educate/Inform College Staff
• Send out informative letter introducing the program to college staff and instructors
• Include links to THINK college and NCPSEA websites for further education
• Offer additional training and meetings for apprehensive instructors
• Seek out local student government groups and get them involved
Recruit Mentors
• Partner with your college media division to assist in development\
distribute recruitment flyer • Email\ post flyer throughout the college• Set up information table at Open House or any
club event for recruitment\ exposure
Who are your Stakeholders?
• Group Homes/Day Programs
• Families – Cfac, First in Families• Elementary/Middle Schools• Social Services• Civic Groups• Hospitals
• Chamber of Commerce• Real Estate Organizations• Business Leader Associations• Government Agencies• Financial Institutions
Taking our Mission Straight to the Capital
Educate/Inform - HOW
• Meet with students to discuss how they feel about going to college and discuss goals.
• Community project where students document their college experience through video journaling
• Partner with local Arts Council\interested partners to showcase the journeys of the students
• Present at local civic groups and governing agencies• In-service trainings for elementary, middle and high
school teachers and counselors
Educate/Inform- WHY?
• Empower students• Preparing the next generation• Changing mindsets• Identifying/creating internship opportunities• Job opportunities• Have a voice in policy change – Lets go to
Raleigh
The Whole College Experience
• Engage students in as many college activities as you can so they can participate with their peers
• Participate and join clubs for exposure and inclusion with their peers
• Mentors involved with Special Olympics Spring Games
Internships
• Encourage students to explore their interests• Be creative when finding the internship fit• Does the internship provide volunteer
mentors, guidance to engage the student• Explore outside agencies to see about
additional support• Provide guidelines and expectations of the
student
Dare County Health Department
• “ I dream of being in the health care field”
Jeanette’s Pier
“I like the outdoors and to fish”
Potential Students
• Partner with local high schools to recruit prospective students• Arrange campus tours\ meetings with current
students to ease the anxiety of potential students
Most important lesson
• “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good”
Online Resources
• Think College www.thinkcollege.net• NC Postsecondary Education Alliance (PSEA)
www.cidd.unc.edu/psea• Post-Secondary Education Research Center (PERC) www
.transitiontocollege.net – Info on options and trends; funded by OSEP.
• The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center www.nsttac.org – Builds capacity for transition outcomes; directed by the Special
Education Program at UNC-Charlotte in partnership with Special Education Programs at Western Michigan State and ASU. Funded by OSEP.
Thank you!Questions?Contact: [email protected]
North Carolina Postsecondary Education Alliance Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
www.cidd.unc.edu/psea
