Students with intellectual disabilities are taking the lead conducting participatory action research (PAR) to chronicle their college experience as part of a national college access initiative. This research currently involves college students with intellectual disabilities documenting their experiences using multimedia tools. These data are then shared via a digital storytelling website, VoiceThread. This article presents an overview of PAR, digital storytelling, and the methodology used to implement PAR with students with intellectual disabilities.
Academic / Peer-Reviewed Article
This study evaluates the impact of a college-based dormitory program on transitioning youth with intellectual disabilities. A qualitative study, with interviews at pre and post, was conducted to evaluate the program’s impact. Data were collected with semistructured interviews from young adults with intellectual disabilities who participated in a college-based residential program and their parents or guardians.
A special issue of the Journal of Policy and Practice on Intellectual Disabilities focusing on postsecondary education for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Articles in this special issue include:
The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to describe how culture, disability, and prospective first-generation college student status influenced the transition decisions of five native Hawaiian students with specific learning disabilities who attended a Hawaiian-focused charter school. Students had strong ties to their history and culture which influenced all facets of their lives including their decisions about the future. Accessing postsecondary education (PSE) was viewed as a means to employment that would enable them to support their family members.
Rehabilitation counselors are critical service providers for young adults with disabilities transitioning from high school to adult environments. However, the investigation of whether rehabilitation counselors in the state–federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program are providing maximum services deserves more attention. Current literature suggests that there have been high levels of variability in how counselors in the state VR system are providing services to transition-age youth.
This article presents an overview of current legislative and policy issues as they related to postsecondary education for people with intellectual disability, including the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state vocational rehabilitation program policies. Policy actions are suggested. In describing existing and emerging practices, critical issues and future challenges are reviewed by the authors.
This Institute for Community Inclusion Institute Brief describes quality employment practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The brief discusses considerations for placement planning and assessment, environmental demands placed on an individual with ASD in the workplace, organizational demands, job development strategies, applications, and recommended areas of practice.
To compare the status of transition planning for students with intellectual disability, autism, or other disabilities, we used data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, a federally funded, national study of the secondary and postschool experiences of students with disabilities. Results show that although transition planning had been conducted for the majority of students, few of them took a leadership role in their transition planning.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the secondary transition correlational literature to identify in-school predictors of improved postschool outcomes in the areas of education, employment, and/or independent living for students with disabilities. Based on results of this review, 16 evidence-based, in-school predictors of postschool outcomes were identified.
This article describes a secondary analysis of variables from the National Longitudinal Transition Survey 2 (NLTS-2) database. Specifically, students with intellectual disability (ID) were compared to students with other disabilities regarding post-school transition goals listed on their IEPs/Transition Plans, contacts/referrals made to outside agencies during transition planning, participation of other agencies/organizations in transition planning (e.g., vocational rehabilitation and higher education representatives), and students’ postsecondary education and employment outcomes.