Project Description:
Interest and momentum have grown in Virginia for increasing opportunities for postsecondary education experiences. Statewide college preview programs include presentation strands focusing on postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities / developmental disabilities (ID/DD); parent groups are seeking information about what options exist in the state; and inquiries to colleges, universities, and state agencies about enhancing and expanding options for students with ID/DD are increasing. An awareness exists of several program-based postsecondary education options offered in Virginia, however, information is unclear about higher education opportunities and/or local school divisions using inclusive individual support options. In 2008, the percentage of students in Virginia with ID attending four year colleges and universities was less than 1%, and approximately 4.2 % attending two year community colleges.
Virginia Collaborative for College, a collaborative project among multiple agencies and organizations, with shared leadership and direction provided by the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia?s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC), proposes to develop a statewide interagency planning team that will engage in a strategic planning process to examine and promote inclusive postsecondary education options for more students with ID/DD to attend postsecondary college, university, and technical schools.
The goals of the project are:
1) Establish a statewide interagency strategic planning team that will serve as a mechanism to bring together key stakeholders from across Virginia to engage in a collaborative planning process to explore individual support options in post secondary education settings;
2) Create a strategic plan that will provide a blueprint for the staff in developing individual support options; and
3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategic plan to determine if outcomes are achieved.
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Legislators/Policy Makers
