Abstract

All students with disabilities frequently face social segregation, limited educational expectations, and restricted occupational prospects. Of the students with disabilities, minority students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the fewest post-school educational prospects. Lately in special education there is an appeal for the advancement and growth of higher education opportunities for minority students with IDD. This is due to many factors including that despite that the proportion of young adults who are racial minorities is growing rapidly, they still have limited access to quality education and the dropout rate of minority students with disabilities tends to be higher than that of other categories of students with and without disabilities. In response, school systems and higher education institutions have started partnering to offer transition services through enrollment to individuals ages 18 through 21 with IDD. This research offers an overview of the models of inclusion for minority students 18-22 years old with IDD currently in place at one public university. Qualitative and quantitative research suggests that services and supports through credited and non-credited courses to individuals with IDD permits growth of these individuals’ self-determination, independence, access to further education, jobs, and community involvement. Additionally, an exploration of the implications and approaches for creation and implementation of college programs for minority students with IDD will be put forward. The practical implications of the results for inclusion audiences dedicated to the values of social justice and community development are far-reaching as there are many stakeholders included in implementing inclusive post-secondary programs.

Presenters

Ashley Rodrigues
Professor, Department of Special Education, Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Poster Session

Theme

Education and Learning Worlds of Differences

KEYWORDS

Transition, Post-Secondary, Inclusion, Minority Students, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Digital Media

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