Project Description:
Project Focus
The purpose of the proposed Utah Postsecondary Inclusion Project (UPIP) is to fully address the project priority area of engaging in state level collaborative planning to establish an action plan that will lead to increased opportunities for inclusive postsecondary education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The overarching goal of the project is to develop a plan that will lead to a measurable increase in the participation rates of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in these increased, inclusive postsecondary opportunities. The development of the action plan will take place in three general phases including an information gathering phase, an information processing phase, and an implementation phase.
Outcomes and activities to realize the goal are summarized below.
1. Form a state level action team, representing key stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive, statewide action plan to increase opportunities for fully inclusive postsecondary education for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2. Gather and document statewide information regarding key stakeholders' perspectives on developing additional opportunities for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of postsecondary education; map assets and resources that would support these additional opportunities.
3. Develop a comprehensive, statewide action plan to measurably increase the participation of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in inclusive postsecondary education programs and opportunities.
4. Implement those components of the action plan that are feasible within the time frame of the project. Implement additional components of the action plan after the project period by following the sustainability portion of the plan.
The action plan will address inclusion of students with developmental and intellectual disabilities in all phases of campus life (academic, social, administrative and residential). It will include (a) a template for program implementation (adapted to Utah from existing programs and sources such as Project PEER and Think College), (b) detailed funding strategies, (c) options for implementation of the full plan, and (d) recruitment/awareness activities to parents and young adults.  
