Project Description:
Objective 1.03 Bridge to Career
Postsecondary education has long been considered a pathway to community inclusion, independent living, and competitive employment for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and developmental disabilities (DD), just as it has been for people without ID/DD. The need for specialized knowledge and skills gained through college, university, or technical school training has increased for all students. Postsecondary education options available for students with ID/DD are increasing as a result of the rising numbers of students with disabilities attending college. However, the programs for individuals with ID/DD are often segregated and/or are college experience only programs without an option to gain a degree or certificate respected by the employment sector. Thanks to new federal legislation and a major grant initiative postsecondary education for people with ID/DD is fortunately on the cusp of substantial growth that will make higher education more available, inclusive, and supportive (see Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008: Weir, et al., 2011: Office of Postsecondary Education, 2010). However, with limited models of successful and respected inclusive postsecondary programs for people with ID/DD more knowledge is needed.
Inclusive postsecondary education programs providing students with ID/DD formalized accredited college, or university training completion enhance the students? chances to gain successful, competitive employment. As the United States economy becomes increasingly knowledge-based, attaining a postsecondary education becomes more critical (Carnevale & Desrochers, 2003). Students with and without disabilities need to exit college with industry respected documentation of skill attainment, a diploma or a certificate, that enhances the students? ability to demonstrate specialized competence and thereby be competitive in the workforce. Bridge to Career in Human Services? (B2C) purpose is to provide people with ID/DD needed support to successfully complete postsecondary education programs, and to create a model other entities may use to support people with ID/DDs? successful completion of postsecondary education programs at colleges or universities. Currently B2C will support 10 people to complete CDD?s PATHS program. The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) will offer the B2C at Texas A&M University (TAMU) beginning the summer of 2012, with the grant and program development beginning January 2012. This program will provide the participants comprehensive assessments to determine needed support, provide pre-program training, and create a wrap-around support team to follow/support the person through to completion of his or her postsecondary education program.
The goal of B2C is to assist people with ID/DD with needed support and skills to complete a postsecondary education program and for the program staff to develop a model other entities may use to support people with ID/DD?s successful completion of postsecondary education programs at colleges or universities. Faculty and staff from CDD aim to support 10 individuals with ID/DD per school year to successfully complete a postsecondary education program. B2C proposes to provide participants with a comprehensive needs assessment, a wrap-around support team, and pre-program summer training in the areas of the individual?s identified need to include self-determination, community living skills, and postsecondary education study and organization skills. Broad supports will be put into place from local, state and community resources, employers, and organizations to provide the training and the support the participants need to successfully complete a postsecondary education program.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
