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Postsecondary Pathways for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This guide was produced by Project Support & Include at —one of seven projects across the state funded by the Department of Education to provide training and technical assistance to schools as they address the academic, social, and behavioral needs of students. This brief was authored by Lauren Magill, Steven Greiner, and Erik W. Carter. 11/2013 COURTESY UT KNOXVILLE UT COURTESY

STEVEN’S STORY and now work at the Vanderbilt courses. I would like to thank Kennedy Center. I am also still my mom and dad for giving me very active with the Next Steps the chance to go to college. I’ve program, Best Buddies Citizens, enjoyed it very much. the state Best Buddies junior advisory board, and my local How did you hear about Next National Stuttering Association Steps? I heard about it through my (NSA). In my spare time, I am a class of the program. We had been have had a very blessed life, with friendsfriend who for severalwas in theyears, very so first I knew tworeal amazingbig fisherman parents and who boater. help I she was in it. It looked like she was me grow. I think there’s more to having so much fun, so I knew that me than meets the eye. I consider I wanted to apply. myself an interesting, nice, and funny guy who is easy to talk to. I Who inspired you to go to have been working hard all of my college? life trying to achieve greatness. I’ll my parents. They both went to put 100% into whatever I set my college; myMy mom biggest went influence to nursing was A graduate of Next Steps at mind to. school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and my Vanderbilt University, Steven father went to the University of Greiner reflects on his college How would you summarize Miami and Florida Atlantic. I think experience and offers advice to your college experience? I think I just wanted to do what every others considering postsecondary everyone should go to college. I high school student dreams—go education. had an amazing time in the Next to college, take higher education Steps program. I think it was an classes, and get a job. Who are you? I went to an amazing experience that allowed elementary and secondary school me to follow my dreams and go What did you like about the in the Nashville area, worked for to college. I’ve made amazing Next Steps program? I loved a few years, and then went to new college friends and enjoyed developing friendships and college at Vanderbilt University getting to hang out with them at meeting different people. Also, through the Next Steps program. Vanderbilt’s eateries. I also loved Vanderbilt’s campus is incredible. I graduated from the program the experience of taking college Next Steps was an amazing college

For more information about the technical assistance project funded to support schools in your region, please see page 6 of this guide. needs.programs There’s out there, a new to movement figure out for postsecondarywhich programs programs fit you and for your young adults with disabilities. We now have a voice in the postsecondary world. I wish this movement would have come about years ago, but I am thankful that young adults with disabilities are now able to experience college. Don’t let anyone say you can’t go to college! If you put your head and heart into it, anything is possible. So go out there and grab your future and don’t let anyone take it. Just go out into this new revolution of experience. I am thankful the move. We watched some cool program allowed me to take real DVDs about the ocean, too. your spot. You can do whatever college courses and meet new 2. youpostsecondary want, including programs college and or find friends. I think young adults with learned how to analyze movies trade school, so don’t let anyone disabilities should experience fromI took different a film course, types whereof scenes I tell you that you can’t achieve your the adventure of postsecondary and camera shots. goals. Just go out there and grab education. I am a big advocate 3. I took a course about transition life with all you’ve got and don’t for Vanderbilt’s Best Buddies, an from high school to college. stop until you get whatever your organization 4. I took a rhetoric class about dream is, whether that is attending where a college student gets famous speeches from the 1620s college or something else. You can paired with an adult in the to the 1860s. It was fascinating, do whatever your heart desires. community that has a disability. It and we read some interesting is empowering to be a part of this texts and speeches. organization. A lot of my friends and fellow board members did I had semester-long internships at Best Buddies in their high school the Sarratt Art Center, Tennessee or heard of it in the community. Technology Center, Vanderbilt It is an amazing opportunity, so I Dayani Center for Health & recommend that students look for Wellness, and Vanderbilt Music this organization at their college or Library. I also learned about university. employment opportunities.

What are some of the courses What steps should students take you took in Next Steps? when thinking about college? I 1. I took oceanography, where we learned about how the ocean programs at universities in your formed over thousands of years area.would I wouldfirst do also my lookhomework on www. on and about the living things in thinkcollege.net if you would the ocean. We also talked about like to look at programs in other how big the ocean is and how states. The key is to research and the plates underneath the ocean do your homework on the different

2 PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE

With the passage of the Individuals A listing of over 200 college pro- with Disabilities Education grams for students with IDD can be Improvement Act and the Higher found online at www.thinkcollege. Education Opportunity Act, net. While programs may differ in people with intellectual and length, focus, and services, they developmental disabilities (IDD) each focus on promoting transi- have unprecedented opportunities tion-related skills and activities to acquire postsecondary education. (e.g., completing internships, Programs around the country managing schedules, participating are beginning to include people in community activities).4 with IDD in college classes and campuses. Postsecondary education TIPS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL is now a viable and growing option TEACHERS for people with IDD as they seek to Secondary school teachers can acquire the skills and experiences start discussions regarding necessary for successful postsecondary opportunities early employment.1 on and revisit them throughout the transition planning process. BENEFITS OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION Talk about the future. Work with Postsecondary education enables students to set long-term goals they students with IDD to transition see as valuable. Begin with short-

into the labor force in an age- term goals by developing plans to CREATIVE KENT appropriate setting, where they can achieve their long-term goals and learn social, academic, and employ- tracking progress. Help students Encourage early work experience. ment skills.2 While in college, increase their self-awareness as In addition to developing students’ students with IDD assume many they explore their strengths, limita- self-knowledge, career aspirations, new responsibilities, including tions, and abilities.5 Share your own and employment skills, employment choosing courses, attending class, college experiences, including the during high school has been found completing assignments, navigating academic (e.g., classes, managing to be a predictor of post-school the campus, and accessing public your own schedule) and social (e.g., success.7 Help students connect to transportation. Social activities clubs, events, meeting new people) paid jobs and/or internships that (e.g., peer mentors, lunch buddies) experiences you enjoyed. help shape their post-school goals. provide students the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom Prepare for postsecondary Raise family expectations. and explore their interests. Post- opportunities. Spend time teaching Parents can have a powerful secondary education presents an students self-determination opportunity for students with IDD skills, which will be valuable in for postsecondary education and to learn in an environment with community and postsecondary employment.influence on their Encourage child’s parentsdesire fewer rules than the high school experiences. Self-determination to help their child explore possible skills allow students to better postsecondary options and prepare they learn technical and interper- understand their disability and how for those possibilities by acquiring sonalsetting, skills which helpful may inbe community beneficial as it affects their learning. In addition, needed skills and experiences and employment settings.3 these skills promote self-advocacy in the school and community.8 and student knowledge of available Address planning for postsecondary Nationally, several options exist supports and services they may education as part of the transition for students with IDD who wish to access when seeking postsecondary planning process. access postsecondary education. educational opportunities.6

3 PAYING FOR POSTSECONDARY available to Tennessee residents EDUCATION determined by the Free Application who have received a diploma In addition to reaching out to local formust Federal demonstrate Student financial Aid (FAFSA), need as businesses and community agencies and must be seeking funds to high school within 16 months of for scholarship opportunities, attend an approved Comprehensive or certificate from a Tennessee Transition Program (CTP).9 grants, work-study programs) exist basedenrolling programs in qualified currently postsecondary include forfederal students financial with aid IDD options to attend (e.g., In June 2013, the Tennessee STEP FUTUREprograms. Program Eligible atcertificate- University college. To access these funds, UP Scholarship legislation passed, of Tennessee-Knoxville, IDEAL students must have an intellectual making Tennessee students with at Lipscomb University, Next IDD eligible for the Tennessee Steps at Vanderbilt University, Education Opportunity Act, can Lottery Scholarship. The STEP UP and TigerLIFE at University of nodisability longer asbe definedenrolled in in the or Higherreceive Scholarship will award $4,000 per Memphis.10 services from their high school, year for up to two years, and is

CURRENT PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE to support the enrollment of these young adults. While many colleges have opportunities for students with IDD, Tennessee has several programs specifically designed PROGRAM DESCRIPTION WEBSITE

Tennessee College of Applied Technology offers comprehensive technical and vocational training at 27 locations in Tennessee. There are training programs tinyurl.com/tncat in many areas, including tool and dye mechanics, aviation mechanics, and welding.

FUTURE Program at is a 2-year, certificate-based, nonresidential Comprehensive Transition Program for people ages 18-29 futureut.utk.edu with IDD and/or autism. Students are provided person-centered plans to meet their career aspirations through academic and vocational education.

IDEAL at Lipscomb University (Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb) will provide young adults with IDD the support and encourage- www.lipscomb.edu/education/ ment needed to experience college by offering academic and skill-building IDEAL-Program courses, internships and externships, peer mentoring, and much more. The first cohort of students will enroll in January 2014.

Next Steps at Vanderbilt University is a 2-year, certificate-based, nonresidential Comprehensive Transition Program for people with IDD. nextstep.vanderbilt.edu The program accepts applicants between ages 18 to 26, and focuses on education, social, and vocational training within an inclusive environment.

TigerLIFE at is a 2-year, certificate-based program offering person-centered planning to meet the unique needs and skills of people over age 18 with IDD. Utilizing both academic and vocational learning blogs.memphis.edu/tigerlife experiences, the program’s goal is to prepare young adults for independence and employment.

4 REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR TEACHERS: 1. Have you had conversations with students about their goals?

2. Do you think any of your students are interested in postsecondary education?

3. Why do you think your students would enjoy these postsecondary programs?

4. Do you think your students would be greater impacted at any particular postsecondary programs?

ONLINE RESOURCES 4Grigal, M., & Dwre, A. (2010). Employment activities and outcomes • Think College! of college-based transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Think College Insight Brief, 16. Boston, MA: Institute for www.thinkcollege.net Community Inclusion. • Tennessee Alliance for Postsecondary Opportuni- 5 ties for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Cabeza, B., Magill, L., Jenkins, A., Carter, E. W., Greiner, S., Bell, L., & Lane, K. L. (2013). Promoting self-determination among students vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/PSEAlliance/ with disabilities: A guide for Tennessee educators. Nashville, TN: • TennesseeWorks Project Support and Include, Vanderbilt University. Available at www.tennesseeworks.org http://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ci3t/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Self-DeterminationBrief-vs2.pdf. www.fafsa.ed.gov 6Getzel, E. E., & Thoma, C. A. (2008). Experiences of college students • Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) with disabilities and the importance of self-determination in higher studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/intellectual-disabilities education settings. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 31, 77-84. • Tennessee Lottery Scholarship www.tn.gov/collegepays 7Benz, M. R., Lindstrom, L., & Yovanoff, P. (2000). Improving graduation and employment outcomes of students with disabilities: Predictive • Self-Determination Guide factors and student perspectives. Exceptional Children, 66, 509–529. vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ci3t/resources Benz, M. R., Yovanoff, P., & Doren, B. (1997). School-to-work • Think College! Postsecondary Education components that predict postschool success for students with and Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities; without disabilities. Exceptional Children, 63, 151–165. Carter, E. W., Ditchman, N., Sun, Y., Trainor, A. A., Swedeen, B., & Owens, A book by Meg Grigal, Ph.D., & Debra Hart, M.S. L. (2010). Summer employment and community experiences of www.brookespublishing.com transition-age youth with severe disabilities. Exceptional Children, • Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship 76, 194-212. www.tn.gov/collegepays/mon_college/stepup.shtml Vondracek, F. W., & Porfeli, E. J. (2003).The world of work and careers. In G. R. Adams & M. D. Berzonsky (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of adolescence (pp. 109–128). Malden, MA: Blackwell. ENDNOTES 8 1Grigal, M., Hart, D., & Lewis, S. (2012). A prelude to progress: The Izzo, M. (2011). Key roles in planning the transition to college and evolution of postsecondary education for students with intellectual careers. In C. Weir, J. Fialka, J. Timmons, & D. Nord (Eds.), Impact 23 disabilities. Think College Insight Brief, 12. Boston, MA: Institute for (3), 14-15. Minneapolis, MN: , Institute on Community Inclusion. Community Integration.

Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 Pub.L. 110-315. (2008). 9 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. disabilities. Think College Insight Brief, 16. Boston, MA: Institute for 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. (2004). Boyle,Community M. (2012). Inclusion. Federal financial aid for students with intellectual 2Papay, C. K., & Bambara, L. M. (2012). College programs for students 10Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. (2013, June 6). Next steps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Results of a advocate for lottery scholarships. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. national survey. In Fast Facts, 3. Boston, MA: Institute for Commu- nity Inclusion. Retrieved from vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/news/5.

3 the purpose and outcomes of college for students with intellectual Grigal,disabilities. M., & Hart, Think D. College(2010). Insight What’s Brief the point?, 16. Boston, A reflection MA: Institute about for Community Inclusion. Graphic services supported in part by NICHD Grant P30 HD15052 to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development. vkc.vumc.org

5 CI3T TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS BY REGION: 2012-2015

The Tennessee Department of Education has provided funding to seven projects to provide training and technical assistance to schools as they address the academic, social, and behavioral needs of students within comprehensive, integrated, three-tiered (CI3T) models of prevention. To locate the project assigned to your region, see below.

Hancock Sullivan Clay Pickett Robertson Macon Claiborne Hawkins Stewart Montgomery Sumner Scott Fentress Campbell Johnson Trousdale Overton Carter Lake Obion Weakley Jackson Union Henry shington Houston Smith Grainger a Hamblen Greene W Morgan nicoi Wilson Putnam Anderson U Dyer Dickson Davidson Jefferson Cheatham Gibson Carroll Knox Humphreys De Kalb Cocke

Benton White Cumberland Williamson Rutherford Roane Crockett Hickman Sevier n Lauderdale Loudon Blount Henderson Cannon Warren Madison Perry Maury dsoe Rhea Haywood Van Bure

Tipton Lewis Sequatchi Ble s r Decatu Bedford Coffee Monroe Chester Grundy Meig McMinn

Marshall e Wayne Shelby Fayette McNairy Hardin Giles Moore Hardeman Lincoln Marion Hamilton Polk Lawrence Franklin Bradley

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS (RISE): VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, Dr. William Hunter Abbie Jenkins KNOXVILLE: Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dr. Tara Moore Phone: 901.678.4932 Phone: 615.343.0706 Email: [email protected] Phone: 865.974.2760 UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, STATE LAMBUTH CAMPUS: UNIVERSITY: STATE Dr. Renee Murley Dr. Zaf Khan UNIVERSITY: Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dr. Leia Blevins Phone: 901.678.5087 Phone: 916.904.8429 Email: [email protected] Phone: 423.439.7547 TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL or UNIVERSITY: Dr. James Fox Dr. Helen Dainty Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 423.439.7556 Phone: 931.372.3116 ©JUPITERIMAGES CORPORATION 6