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TEACHING Exceptional Children, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 411–419. Copyright 2017 The Author(s). DOI: 10.1177/0040059917711695
Supporting
Students With
Intellectual and
Developmental
Disabilities to
Attend College
Megan M. Griffin and Clare K. Papay
One of Ms. Barry’s students, Paul, a of postsecondary education within 8 differently: In some programs,
16-year-old with autism spectrum years after exiting high school students participate in courses and
disorder and intellectual disability (ID), (Newman et al., 2011). Through recent receive grades in the same way that
came to school talking about his older federal funding for Transition and their typically developing peers do
brother who had just started college. Postsecondary Programs for Students (Grigal et al., 2017). Sometimes
Paul wants to go to college, too, but his With Intellectual Disabilities, 2,245 students audit courses or take them
parents do not think that this is a students accessed postsecondary pass/fail. Finally, some programs
realistic goal and are asking for her education at 57 college and university provide separate classes designed for
advice. Ms. Barry has never heard this campuses between 2010 and 2015 students with IDD (Grigal et al.,
question from a student’s parents before (Grigal, Hart, Smith, Domin, & Weir, 2017).
and is unsure about what to tell them. 2017). Alongside the exponential College is a place where students
growth in programs, these data suggest with IDD can develop academic and
that students with IDD are attending personal skills, self-advocacy, and
Students with intellectual and
college in greater numbers than ever self-confidence (Hart et al., 2010). In
developmental disabilities (IDD), such
before. college, students with IDD can also
as autism spectrum disorder and Down
Postsecondary education programs learn employment skills and gain
syndrome, have more opportunities to
for students with IDD are located on experiences that support them in
go to college than ever before (Hart,
2- and 4-year college campuses, and achieving their employment goals
Grigal, & Weir, 2010). Over the last
several offer on-campus living (Grigal, (Papay & Bambara, 2011). The college
decade, the issue of increasing access
Hart, & Weir, 2012). Some are experience can support students in
to college for students with IDD has
dual-enrollment programs, serving the transition from high school to
gained much national attention, in part
students who are still eligible for adult life in the community. Further,
due to federal funding through the
special education services, whereas by attending college, students with
Higher Education Opportunity Act
other programs admit only those who IDD are afforded the opportunity to
(2008). According to Think College—
have exited high school (Papay & take on a valued role within society:
a national organization dedicated to
Bambara, 2011). Although these that of a college student (Hart et al.,
expanding and improving opportunities
programs are diverse, a commonality 2010).
for inclusive higher education for
is that they provide pathways to Although going to college may not be
students with IDD—more than 240
participation that historically have not a goal or a good fit for every student
inclusive college programs for students
been available to students with IDD with IDD, inclusive postsecondary
with ID exist across the United States
due to traditional requirements of a education opportunities are becoming
(see Figure 1; Think College, 2017).
high school diploma and minimum more widely available to this group of
This number represents an exponential
grades or test scores (Grigal et al., students (National Coordinating Center
increase in programs—nearly 10 times
2012). Each program is structured Accreditation Workgroup, 2016). Yet,
greater than the number of programs
available in 2004 (National
Coordinating Center Accreditation
Workgroup, 2016). Not only are there Figure 1. Map of inclusive postsecondary education programs in the United States
more programs to choose from, with
recent revisions to the Higher
Education Opportunity Act, students
with ID also can access federal
financial aid for attending
postsecondary education programs that
meet federal requirements (Hart et al.,
2010).
Several sources of data provide a
snapshot of college attendance by
students with IDD. An analysis of data
from the Rehabilitation Services
Administration suggests that up to 20%
of youth with ID in each state are in
postsecondary education while
receiving vocational rehabilitation
services (Grigal, Migliore, & Hart,
2014). The National Longitudinal
Transition Study 2 indicated that 28.7% Note. Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2017 by Think College, University of
of youth with ID enrolled in some type Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved from www.programs.thinkcollege.net
Table 1. Resources Related to College for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
Federal Student Aid Information on financial aid for students with https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
intellectual disability eligibility/intellectual-disabilities
ME! Lessons for Teaching Self- Curriculum on self-awareness and self- http://www.ou.edu/content/
Awareness & Self-Advocacy advocacy available free through the University education/centers-and-partnerships/
of Oklahoma’s Zarrow Center zarrow/transition-education-materials.
html
National Center for College National online clearinghouse for information http://www.nccsdonline.org
Students With Disabilities about disability and higher education
National Parent Center on Information and resources for parents and http://www.pacer.org/transition/
Transition and Employment youth on topics including postsecondary
education
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