College students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been involved in advocacy efforts to promote inclusive postsecondary education. These efforts include informing legislators, higher education personnel, school administrators, and IEP team members, as well as parents and prospective students, that inclusive postsecondary education is not only possible but an effective transition services model.
Bridgewater State University's EXCEL Program has made great strides in creating and maintaining inclusive postsecondary education experiences for students with IDD. This brief focuses on the work EXCEL program staff have accomplished by building an inclusive model, department by department, on their campus.
Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers can provide support for individuals with intellectual disability participating in postsecondary education (PSE). HCBS waiver funding has been used to pay for peer support, career services, transportation, tuition, fees, and more (Parisi & Landau 2018). This Insight Brief explains how to access information on state HCBS waiver programs, how to review those programs, how to determine what waiver services can support PSE, and more.
An increasing number of states allow students with intellectual disability (ID) to use Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers to support participation in postsecondary education (PSE) programs. These waiver services support access to higher education for students receiving Medicaid services who might otherwise not be able to attend postsecondary education. This Insight Brief explains what Medicaid Waivers are, what PSE services they can be used for, and how to access waiver services.
This brief, written by Think College partners at the Pacer Center, focuses on alternatives to guardianship. The authors take care to explain the different options available to families, and what the ramifications are for those options. In particular, this publication explains details and possible outcomes for power of attorney, supported decision-making, and guardianship. Examples are shared, as well as many additional resources.
This brief explores the state-level policy actions and trends that have occurred that are designed to strengthen inclusive PSE practices in several states.
Given the positive outcomes of postsecondary education (PSE) that are possible for individuals with ID, more states should consider allowing Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver participants the option to use waiver support to participate in PSE. Using HCBS waivers could greatly improve their likelihood of employment, as well as opportunities to experience greater community inclusion, personal satisfaction, and decreased reliance on publicly provided support services.
Colleges and universities use multiple means to meet their inclusive program costs, including state and federal funds, foundation monies, Medicaid waivers, vocational rehabilitation (VR) funds, and scholarships. One underused financial resource is the Partnership Plus model provided under the Ticket to Work program of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Partnership Plus is a structured services provision model between VR and other entities to assist SSA beneficiaries to employment, with compensation from SSA provided to each.
This Insight Brief #38 provides dual enrollment staff, specifically college coordinators and transition specialists, an overview of effective transfer practices and policies between sending and receiving institutions to support students with intellectual disability and autism. These practices include advising, orienting, and support services, as well as providing opportunities for academic and social integration. Building ongoing relationships with transfer destination partners will be key to developing successful transfer programs.
