Post Secondary Education: Why Not College?

Why Not College?

Working to Promote Educational Futures for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

College Transition Connection, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Center for Disability Resources have developed a partnership to create high-quality, inclusive, model post-secondary LIFE™ (Learning is for Everyone) programs for students with intellectual disabilities at two and four year universities in South Carolina.

The goal of this partnership project is to support the development of South Carolina’s LIFE™ programs, offering excellent post-secondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. The desired outcomes of the transition and post-secondary program are academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills, and competitive or supported employment.

In collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society and the College Transition Connection, funding was appropriated to three universities, The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and Coastal Carolina University, to develop and implement post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. 

CDR provides technical assistance and training to staff and faculty at all three universities on program development, person-centered planning, and program implementation.

Carolina LIFE™   http://www.sa.sc.edu/sds/carolinalife

Providing a new, innovative post-secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities from South Carolina, CarolinaLIFE™ offers a college experience to individuals with intellectual disabilities that might otherwise not experience college life.  Students enrolled will be working on social, community living, vocational, and academic goals.

Clemson LIFE™    http://www.clemson.edu/culife

This Clemson University program is designed for students with intellectual disabilities who desire a postsecondary experience on a college campus. We provide a coordinated course of study including career exploration and preparation along with self-awareness, discovery, and personal improvement through a framework of courses, job internships, and community participation.

Coastal Carolina LIFE™   http://www.coastal.edu/cec/LIFEprogram.html

Coastal Carolina University seeks to provide an inclusive four-year post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities, offering a supportive and developmentally appropriate scheduling and coursework that will assist in assuring the students’ smooth effective transition, guidance, and success throughout the program.

College of Charleston   http://blogs.cofc.edu/life/

The R.E.A.C.H. (Realizing Educational and Career Hopes) program at the College of Charleston is a four-year inclusive program for students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.  The purpose of the program is to provide the opportunity for all students to realize their intellectual and personal potential, and to become responsible, productive members of society.  REACH students will participate in the academic, residential, social, and cultural experiences offered by the College, with appropriate support for success.  The program will commence in the beginning of Fall Semester 2010.  

College Transition Connection (CTC)   http://collegetransitionconnection.org/

Working with select colleges and universities in South Carolina to design, create, and fund transition and post-secondary opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities.

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)   http://www.ndss.org/

Benefitting people with Down syndrome and their families through national leadership in education, research, and advocacy, The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to realize their life aspirations. NDSS is committed to being the national leader in enhancing the quality of life, and realizing the potential of all people with Down syndrome. One of the major priorities of the Board and National Policy Center (NPC) of NDSS is to promote transition and post-secondary opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities on college campuses. The NDSS Transition and Post-secondary Education Project’s work includes: promoting public policy and systems change; promoting funding for research, technical assistance and outreach; providing technical assistance to emerging post-secondary programs; encouraging public support through public awareness; and assisting to create replicable, model transition and post-secondary programs.

Post-secondary Education Resource Manual, PDF version (210K)

Consortium for Post-secondary Education

The Institute for Community Inclusion subcontracts with CDR to provide technical assistance through this grant administered through ADD.  This project brings together several UCEDDs, including the Center for Disability Resources at the University of South Carolina, the University of Minnesota, the University of Hawaii, the University of Delaware, Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of California Los Angeles. The purpose of the grant is to develop technical assistance and training for colleges and universities wanting to offer post-secondary education opportunities to students with intellectual disabilities. The Consortium will be the national resource for knowledge, training and technical assistance, materials, and dissemination about the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities in post-secondary education.

ThinkCollege.net   www.thinkcollege.net

Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of post-secondary education. This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding out more about the possibilities.

Help Us Identify Post-secondary Education Options for
Students with Intellectual Disabilities!

PDF version (51K)

If your college and/or school system has a program or provides services.
OR
If you know of any programs or services that exist in your community, region, or state, PLEASE let us know, even if you are not directly involved.

The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts and TransCen, Inc. have received a federal grant to identify college programs or services that support students with intellectual disabilities*. This information will be used to identify the characteristics and outcomes of these post-secondary education programs to further understand their impact on individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)   www.communityinclusion.org

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) is a University Center of Excellence in Disability. ICI has a wide array of materials that support full access of youth and adults with disabilities to employment and post-secondary education. ICI offers training, clinical, and employment services, conducts research, and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities.

TransCen,Inc.   http://www.transcen.org

TransCen, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The associates at TransCen, Inc. develop, implement, and research innovations regarding school-to-adult life transition and career development for people with disabilities. Our work is driven by the belief that there is a job for everyone who wants one, regardless of the nature of their disability, their need for workplace support and accommodation, or economic circumstance.

Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College—A Webinar, PDF version (190K)