Think College Webinar

In higher education, credentials are awarded to demonstrate that individuals have achieved the completion a program of studies or mastery of a set of competencies. Currently, there is no standard approach to offering meaningful credentials to students who are attending college through a program for students with intellectual disability (ID). In this session, we present data on the extent to which colleges and universities are offering credentials to students with ID and the types available.

Participants will take a fresh look at family engagement in postsecondary education programs from a parent perspective. Parents and program staff will explore strategies for effective family engagement practices in light of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements, self-determination, and evidence on the importance of continuing parental involvement and support for young adults with ID/DD. Participants attending this webinar will be able to: 1. Understand the current landscape of parent involvement at the college level 2.

Prior to 2013, there were limited postsecondary education options in Pennsylvania. Donna Partin, parent of young adult with an intellectual disability, wanted to create a network of college programs in Pennsylvania. Donna’s vision led to the creation of the DREAM Partnership. Today, the DREAM Partnership has assisted in the development and expansion of 8 postsecondary programs in Pennsylvania.

For students who support their peers academically in inclusive college programs, building strategies is often a learning process. This webinar will introduce an open video resource being developed for Think College by a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who supports students with intellectual disability in their classes. The video series shares tips and strategies that other students can use as peer supports or mentors.

When it comes to helping students with disabilities find jobs, we often talk about how to market to employers. But when talking about inclusive PSE programs for students on college campuses, we often forget about the marketing right at home – on our own campuses. If the goal is for your students to be included in all parts of campus life, then all parts of the campus need to know about you. They need to know who you are and why your program is on campus – and you need to control that message.

For students who are attending inclusive dual enrollment programs, their experiences have the potential to very positively inform transition plan goals with regard to postsecondary plans. Individual Education Program teams, including transition specialists, college program staff, educational coaches, related services staff, students and parents have a great opportunity to develop and implement meaningful transition plans based on current college experiences.

Join blogger, advocate, and self-designated supermom, Jennifer Farmer, as she tells the story of how her daughter Chloe decided she wanted to go college and all the things that happened to help Chloe achieve that goal. Chloe Farmer knew from a young age that she wanted to go to college, and her mother, Jennifer decided she would do whatever it took to help her achieve her goals. It wasn’t easy: there were a lot of meetings, a lot of resistance, and many other obstacles.

It is a critical time in states – they started their new budget year in July, are preparing for their new legislative sessions beginning in January, are facing many potential changes in the federal state relationships and funding, and in some states, are still digging out from the great recession. State and local policymakers are looking for partners, solutions, and ways to stretch their dollars. Perhaps most importantly, they are looking for ways simply to make life better for their citizens. You have some of that information!

Data on student outcomes is critical for program evaluation and advocacy. In this webinar, we present a process and strategies and that can be used to collect student outcome data. We share examples of tools that are used to document student outcomes from one program as well as the TPSID follow-up data tool. Ideas of how to use outcome data will be shared. The webinar is designed for programs that are not currently collecting data through the TPSID Data Network.

During this webinar participants will learn about the development of Meaningful Credentials and how they are being established in a variety of colleges and university systems. Nationally students with intellectual disabilities are obtaining credentials when exiting college. This important capstone is essential to the following: bringing meaning to the course work completed in college, enhancing the personal and social growth of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and will result in greater value to employers.