Insight Brief

This is the first Insight Brief published by Think College. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315) (HEOA) was enacted on August 14, 2008 and it reauthorized the Higher Education Act of 1965. This law contains a number of important new provisions that will improve access to postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Of particular note are several provisions that address financial aid and that create a new model demonstration program and coordinating center for students with intellectual disabilities. 

Think College Insight Brief #18 describes a project that sought to find effective and low-cost ways to improve secondary and postsecondary professionals’ job development skills.

Think College Insight Brief #15 highlights some recent findings on the impact of postsecondary education on employment outcomes and how this impact differs by disability status, using data from the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS).

Think College Insight Brief #14 provides an overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), describe how it is supported in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, and share strategies for using UDL in college programs for students with ID/DD.

Think College Insight Brief #13 focuses on the Florida College Collaborative which conducted two parallel statewide web surveys, one for professionals who support people with IDD and another for families of youth with IDD. The surveys gathered perspectives about PSE for students with IDD and information on current practices. They asked about students’ hopes and dreams and about barriers to their participation in PSE programs.

Think College Insight Brief #9 describes how EXCEL was formed, how its work led to the creation of THRIVE, and how others might use a similar process for similar efforts in other areas of the country. Over a period of four years, the founders of EXCEL evolved from meeting informally over coffee to establishing an official nonprofit organization. EXCEL raised private money from generous families and foundations, then used partnerships with public agencies to promote sustainable inclusive programs in local colleges. 

Think College Insight Brief #8 focuses on healthcare transitions and provides strategies that can be used in college and afterward to help young people stay healthy and ready for the future.

Think College Insight Brief #4 provides an overview of the supported education model and some of the challenges associated with using educational coaches in college. Explains how to use the Student/Coach Agreement Form.

Think College Insight Brief #17 describes how dual enrollment programs at several community colleges in Massachusetts have shifted from the use of state funds that were provided as seed money to be self-supporting with the use of IDEA funds and in-kind contributions from the college.  Examples of who funds different aspects of the programs, and a template to use to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between a college and a school district are included.

This brief describes the fiscal, policy, and environmental contexts of the state of practice and research in the field of inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability (ID) at the time it was written, in 2011. It also introduces a validated, standards-based conceptual framework that provides a foundation for future research and practice in this field.