In early 2023, the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network’s Employment Partnerships Workgroup held a listening session with state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) leaders. The session's goal was to hear from various VR administrators on their partnerships, perspectives, and needs around inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) in their respective states. From that listening session, the workgroup facilitators developed two publications summarizing the rich information gathered and the implications for the field. The two Insight Briefs highlight valuable insights and actionable recommendations to transform the landscape of employment opportunities for students enrolled in higher education programs through collaborative practices.
Check out both of the new publications to learn more about the listening session and corresponding recommendations:
Perspectives of State Vocational Rehabilitation Leaders on Partnering with Higher Education Programs
A detailing of the listening session results, this publication outlines key issues and recommendations shared by VR state leaders. The information gleaned from the listening session can act as a catalyst for facilitating stronger partnerships between state VR agencies and IPSE programs with a shared goal of increasing access to and opportunities for paid employment for people with intellectual disability. The workgroup plans to use the information gathered through this listening session to develop more robust resources and training for VR agencies and IPSE program staff to facilitate strong state-level collaboration.
Complementing the detailed issues and recommendations from the listening session, this publication sheds light on the overarching recommendations derived from the listening session. It outlines strategic initiatives to foster stronger partnerships between state VR agencies and higher education programs, thereby amplifying access to paid employment opportunities for students with intellectual disability. From highlighting successful partnerships to addressing systemic barriers, this brief serves as a starting point towards building more collaborative partnerships between VR agencies and IPSE programs.
These briefs serve as informational resources and catalysts for collective action and advocacy. With the information gleaned from the VR listening session, the workgroup will continue developing needed resources to strengthen state-wide collaboration between VR and higher education programs. You can find all of these resources in our Vocational Rehabilitation hyper doc. For more information, visit Think College Network’s Employment Partnerships Workgroup page or email Jaclyn Camden.