In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) mandated significant changes to the workforce development and vocational rehabilitation (VR) systems. One of these changes was a requirement that state vocational rehabilitation agencies set aside at least 15% of their federal funds to provide pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services.
Significant changes were made to the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency services program with passage of the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). These changes, which include specific resources to help individuals with disabilities find, obtain, and maintain meaningful competitive integrated employment, may lead to more optimal employment outcomes for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who are often faced with under- or unemployment in adulthood.
Over the past decade, the field of inclusive higher education has expanded considerably, offering a growing number of options for students with intellectual disabilities and/or autism (ID/A) to access college experiences that include career development and employment. This focus on employment spurs many of these programs to partner with state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies. However, these partnerships require staff from both entities to develop an understanding about each partner’s role to work together effectively.
This poster, presented at the NIDILRR 40th Anniversary Celebration (https://acl.gov/NIDILRR40), reports findings from a mixed-methods study by Think College staff on the role of vocational rehabilitation (VR) in promoting postsecondary education for students with intellectual disability and/or autism. The study included secondary analysis of data collected from TPSID model demonstration sites and intensive case studies of four effective VR/higher education partnerships.
This Fast Fact #20 describes ways that Transition Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID programs) engage with state vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide pre-employment transition services to students with intellectual disability enrolled in colleges and universities.
This Fast Fact provides a summary of the findings shared in the Year Three Annual Report of the TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (2017-2018). Findings are shared across multiple categories including employment, vocational rehabilitation, academics, academic and employment supports, residential services, program completion and credential attainment, and one-year outcomes.
At the CEC 2019 conference, Meg Grigal, Debra Hart, and Clare Papay, along with Dana Lattin from University of Kansas presented Higher Education for Students With Intellectual Disability: Profiles of Effective Practice. This presentation covered the latest national data on access to higher education by students with intellectual disability, and provided concrete examples and strategies on access to inclusive college coursework, paid employment, and campus residential options.
Think College REPORTS present descriptive data in narrative or tabular form to provide timely information to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers for review and use. This report provides program- and student-level data reported by TPSIDs (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) during the 2017-2018 academic year. Program data reflect program characteristics, academic access, supports for students, and integration of the program within the IHE during the third year of FY 2016–2020 funding.
Higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) offer opportunities to engage in college experiences including access to typical college courses. The purpose of the present study was to examine data from federally funded programs in order to describe and identify predictors of inclusive course enrollments. Data on 672 first-year students with IDD who enrolled in 3,233 inclusive college courses were analyzed.
This article highlights the benefits of postsecondary education for students with intellectual disability (ID), but reviewing numerous factors contributing to its growth as an option for students exiting high school. The authors cite research done by the Think College National Coordinating Center that shows growth in opportunities for students with ID to attend college. This growth is attributed to factors such as credential development at institutions of higher education (IHE) and improved pathways to competitive employment.
