Resource Library

Few students with disabilities from high-poverty backgrounds attend college. We discuss the effects of disability and growing up in poverty on expectations for postsecondary education attendance. We describe the limiting effects of attending high-poverty high schools on student achievement followed by challenges faced by low-income students with disabilities in accessing and completing college programs including the role of federal student aid programs.

The article compares how post secondary education (PSE) for persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) is implemented in the U.S. under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and abroad under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Topics discussed include suggestions on how the CRPD could be amended to offer better PSE outcomes for persons with ID, opportunities and inclusivity in PSE in the U.S. and brief information on CRPD.

There is a growing trend toward including adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) in further education. However, there is a lack of literature on the preparation of students with ID to attend further education. This article, by James Wintle of Queen's University, Ontario, describes how a non-profit organisation, CALC Prep, prepares adults with ID to audit university courses. Eighty hours of observations were conducted over the course of one term at this organisation. A grounded theory approach was used to identify themes within CALC Prep's curriculum.

Website for the DO-IT Center, based at the University of Washington. Provides free information, articles, resources, and training materials for both students with disabilities and educators and faculties who want to improve accessibility in postsecondary education.

This chapter examines the myriad new provisions in HEOA intended to improve access to higher education for students with disabilities as well as HEOA's provisions related to preparing teachers to effectively instruct students with disabilities in the K-12 environment. Multiple new provisions reflect an invigorated commitment to developing a workforce for today's schools - schools with unprecedented diversity - and to addressing the critical teacher shortages, including special education.

Published by the NCWD, this booklet looks at family involvement, school preparation, career preparation, connecting activities and youth development, and leadership as the guideposts necessary for transition-age youth. The publication highlights the aspects that should be a part of the programs and planning activities related to the transition from high school to college, work, and the community. This free, downloadable guide is available in English and Spanish.

This Mentor Application was developed by Vanderbilt University's Next Step program for students with intellectual disabilities to recruit and screen student applicants wishing to be peer mentors for Next Step students on campus.

A five minute video by Norman Kunc and Emma Vanderklift that uses words and music to highlight important concepts to remember when supporting people with disabilities.  Excellent training resource for educational coaches and peer mentors.