Federal Legislation

Amendments to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008), including the creation of the Transition and Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) model demonstration program, have led to increased opportunities for students with intellectual disability to obtain postsecondary education. The present study builds on previous reviews of the literature on postsecondary education (PSE) for students with intellectual disability (SWID) to provide a review of articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2016.

Significant changes were made to the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency services program with passage of the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). These changes, which include specific resources to help individuals with disabilities find, obtain, and maintain meaningful competitive integrated employment, may lead to more optimal employment outcomes for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who are often faced with under- or unemployment in adulthood.

This nonpartisan webinar recorded in October 2018 highlights key federal and state policies and legislation that will be impacted, including education, inclusive higher education, the future of long-term services and supports, and the availability of health care for individuals with pre-existing conditions. The involvement of individuals with disabilities, family members and professionals in the public policy and electoral process is key to improving services and supports and ensuring that Congress and state governments address the needs of individuals with disabilities.

This report examines issues regarding needed alignment of services and collaboration among agencies and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to achieve the goal of supporting youth with intellectual disability (ID) to obtain increased academic learning, independent living, and competitive integrated employment through participation in postsecondary education.

Example of a form that a parent can sign to documnt that they claim their son/daughter as a dependent on their federal tax return, thereby providing them with view elements of their child's educational record.

Example of a form that a college would ask a student to sign in order to release educational records to their parents.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 is transforming how federally funded job training programs help prepare workers for the labor force. The law is aimed at increasing opportunities, through innovation and support, particularly for those facing barriers in the labor force. One implication of the law is a renewed emphasis on the role that state vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs) play in preparing transition-age youth for employment. This brief provides an overview of current programs that SVRAs offer to transition-age youth.

This Think College Fast Fact focuses on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 which is the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. WIOA funds and supports state vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs. It has enhanced supports for young people with intellectual disabilities (ID) who wish to access postsecondary education, find a job, and develop a career.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) contains several important provisions that make postsecondary education more accessible and affordable for young adults with disabilities. This is particularly true for students with intellectual disabilities, as the law created new comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs and provided access to federal student aid to this population for the first time. This article presents a brief summary of the original Higher Education Act of 1965, as well as a detailed summary of the HEOA.

The article discusses a demonstration program, Transition and Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSIDs) and the accompanying National Coordinating Center created by U.S. Congress in 2008. Topics discussed include the awarding of these programs to institutes of higher education seeking to validate an emerging pathway to increased integrated competitive employment and learning and the need to discern long term fiscal impacts on higher education institutions.