This presentation was delivered at the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) conference in fall 2024, by Melinda Fruendt, Rachel Hoard, and Russ Thelin. These three professionals have decades of combined experience as practitioners and state and national leaders. In their presentation, they spoke on the importance of collaboration and understanding between VR staff and higher education professionals. Specific examples of success from Oklahoma and Colorado were shared.
Fruendt, Melinda
In order to improve employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability, it is important for VR personnel and higher education program staff to establish partnerships. The Employment Partnerships Collaborative Workgroup, a project of the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network, identified states with exemplary partnerships and asked them to write up a description of what makes things work in their state.
Project
Inclusive Higher Education Network
When state agencies and other groups work together with college programs for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities, everyone benefits. Working together helps everyone involved so agencies and other groups can learn about each other while they help students. Instead of working on their own, agencies and groups that start working together find new ways to help students with intellectual/developmental disabilities that go to college. This session explained how Vocational Rehabilitation, Workforce Innovation Boards, and others are working together for students.