Employment and Independent Living Outcomes for Graduates With Intellectual Disabilities From a Post‐Secondary Educational Program

As postsecondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) emerge across the country, it is crucial that these programs involve adult agency partners to enhance planning and service delivery, thereby increasing the likelihood that the skills obtained during these experiences will lead to improved employment outcomes. The present study aims to extend the current knowledge base regarding PSE programs’ and vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies’ collaborative roles and activities. The present study examines state VR involvement with PSE programs as perceived by PSE administrators, specifically, the extent to which PSE and VR are collaborating, and the roles and activities rehabilitation counselors perform during this collaboration. Findings indicate that PSE administrators report variability in both the levels of collaboration with state VR agencies and the understanding of VR roles. Furthermore, data show that the majority of respondents felt VR seldom or never provide services beyond financial assistance. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.

Postsecondary education (PSE) programs serving individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) aim to improve life outcomes by increasing skills in three key areas: academics, independent living, and employment. To ensure that PSE programs are successful, ongoing evaluations are necessary. It is particularly important to gather parental perspectives given the integral role they play regarding decision making for students with ID. This qualitative study analyzed data from 58 interviews conducted with parents whose child was enrolled in a PSE program nested within a large public university. Thematic analysis with a deductive approach was the established theoretical model used to guide the analysis. Themes related to capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior are presented, and future recommendations for PSE programs are discussed.

BACKGROUND: Postsecondary education (PSE) programs for students with intellectual disability (ID) have been increasing in recent years. Career development and skills for independent living are frequently cited objectives of PSE programs ( Grigal, Hart, & Weir, 2012 ) yet evidence for the immediate effects of these programs is sparse. OBJECTIVE: In this study we conducted an initial investigation to monitor changes in independence during a one year period for six students with intellectual disability (ID) participating in an inclusive postsecondary education program. METHODS: Adaptive behaviors and support needs were measured using the Scale of Independent Behaviors-Revised (SIB-R; Bruininks Woodcock, Weatherman, & Hill, 1996 ), the Support Intensity Scale (SIS, Thompson et al., 2004 ), and weekly hours of support provided to the students were directly measured. A single group, pre-post design was used to compare measures of independence from the beginning and end of the academic year. RESULTS: Initial results, in the form of descriptive statistics, show evidence that students, living on a college campus and participating in a PSE program, learn to function in ways that reduce the needs for support without limiting participation in inclusive activities. CONCLUSION: Recommendations for improving impact assessments of PSE programs are also discussed.

Postsecondary education (PSE) programs for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) have increased steadily since the passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore a decade of research pertaining to PSE programs for students with IDDs on college campuses. Online databases were examined. Hand searches were completed to identify studies released from 2008 to 2018 about PSE programs offered on college campuses. Sixty-eight studies met inclusion criteria: 43 peer-reviewed articles across 26 interdisciplinary journals and 25 dissertations across 20 universities. This review identified an increasing trend in research on PSE programs on college campuses. Suggestions for future research and implications for stakeholders were discussed.

Financial, legislative, and philosophical support for postsecondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with intellectual disability has resulted in great increases in the number of such programs across the country. Directors of new PSE programs have few research-based guidelines to provide direction for integrating programs within colleges or universities. In this study, we survey administrators of PSE programs for individuals with intellectual disability across the United States in order to identify perceptions of supports and barriers encountered during program development. We also investigated if these supports or barriers changed over time or varied according to type of program. Results suggest that most perceived barriers and supports, with the exception of funding issues, improved over time. Further, there was a significant difference in perceived support from six of the nine identified institutions of higher education IHE collaborative partners from the inception of the program to the present time.

Students with intellectual disability are among the least likely to gain competitive employment, live away from their families, or attend college following high school. While family-professional partnerships can facilitate positive transitions from school into adult life among students with disabilities, professionals report being unsure of how to develop positive relationships with families. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives and experiences of postsecondary education (PSE) program staff as they work with families of students enrolled in the program. Twenty-three PSE staff participated in interviews or focus groups to share information about (a) barriers to family-professional partnerships, (b) positive experiences related to family-professional partnerships, and (c) family-professional partnership strategies. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Transition programs based on college campuses for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (IDD) ages 18 -21 provide an opportunity for age-appropriate inclusion when peers without disabilities graduate from high school at age 18. The purpose of the present study was to examine the general characteristics of postsecondary education (PSE) programs for students with IDD and the extent to which students with IDD are participating in college classes through a national survey. Results suggest that (a) opportunities for students with IDD to participate in PSE programs may be limited to those students who are enrolled in school districts that fund and operate PSE programs and not open to all students, and (b) although many students with IDD are participating in college classes, the types of classes and the manner in which students participate appear to be linked to the level of students' academic abilities and the type of postsecondary education institution at which the program is located. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Self-determination skills are critical for improving life outcomes for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). The recent growth of postsecondary education (PSE) programs for those with IDD has provided additional opportunities for teaching self-determination skills. This study used a multiple probe across participants design with six individuals with IDD. The intervention consisted of a self-determination choice-making curriculum along with the use of a self-monitoring checklist to increase self-determination skills. Data were analyzed using visual analysis. Results revealed gains in participants’ knowledge of choice-making steps with moderate effect size gains. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Post-secondary education (PSE) plays an important role in preparing individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) to gain employment and independent living. Despite the recent increase in PSE programs, however, there is a lack of research examining outcomes of individuals with IDD who have attended a PSE program. This study examined three years of data from students who participated in one PSE program that focuses on the acquisition of skills regarding self-determination, employment, and independent living. We analyzed the outcome data of program graduates regarding their acquisition of skills in employment and self-determination, as well as follow-up data on employment. It was found that participation in the program increased self-determination and post-secondary readiness. Our findings also indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the self-determination scores of participants and their employment outcomes.

Students with intellectual disability (ID) are increasingly attending postsecondary education institutions and acquiring work experiences while completing their studies. One of the main motivations for students with ID to seek higher education is to broaden and increase their chance for finding fulfilling, paid employment in their communities. Findings from a qualitative study on staff perspectives regarding career development and employment supports and services provided to students attending Transition and Postsecondary Education Programs for Students With Intellectual Disability (TPSID) model demonstration programs in the United States are presented. Results reflect consensus across program staff regarding the goals and expectations for employment of TPSID students. Programs vary considerably in their institutional context, their partnership with other entities, and the structure of employment services, as well as the emphasis placed on paid versus unpaid employment. Some of the key strategies shared by staff regarding successful student employment practices involved outreach and engagement, visibility on campus, improving access to career services, and cultivating partnerships. As higher education continues to expand its offerings to students with ID, postsecondary education programs need to continue to emphasize and honor the importance of paid employment, and continue to seek the best methods to achieve this outcome for students with ID.

With postsecondary education opportunities for adult students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) on the rise, it is important to find socially validated research-based methods that are appropriate for the university or other community-based postsecondary instructional settings. The present research examines the effects of using flashcards with descriptive feedback and opportunities to respond, to teach one student with intellectual disabilities, enrolled in a postsecondary education-training program, commonly used industrial kitchen equipment. Results showed that discrete trail instruction, which included an error correction strategy of descriptive feedback plus opportunities to correctly respond was highly effective in mastery and maintenance of kitchen equipment identification, and generalization when asked to locate those items in the university kitchen lab.

Since the reauthorization of The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) in 2008, postsecondary programs that include individuals with intellectual developmental disability have seen a phenomenal increase. In 2015, a National Coordinating Center along with 52 Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) were created and funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education. Currently, 267 programs are listed on the National Coordinating Center’s website. This is an increase in programs by 500% compared to the number in 2008. As more programs are created with many of them being grass roots initiatives, a basic framework to beginning and supporting these endeavors has been identified. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework to assist those interested in beginning their own inclusive program at an institution of higher education for students with intellectual developmental disability.

Inclusive post-secondary education (PSE) for students with intellectual disabilities (IDs) is becoming increasingly common in colleges and universities. A majority of these inclusive PSE programs focus on academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills, integrated work experiences, and career skills. Thus, in inclusive PSE programs, it is important for students with ID to be able to use technology for academic, employment, independent living, and communication functions. It is also beneficial if these students are able to use different technology devices (e.g., computers, smart phones, and tablets) for multiple purposes in order to complete academic, social, recreational, and vocational tasks. Although students with ID can be taught these skills in college, students who begin PSE programs already having these technology skills are better prepared for college and adulthood. Including digital literacy skills, technology strategies, and assistive technology use and application goals in Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition plans may be very helpful in preparing high school students for multiple adult outcomes. This paper describes some of the assistive technology and digital literacy skills, strategies, tools, and goals that secondary level special education teachers should include in students’ IEPs and transition plans. It also suggests how special education teachers can teach these technology skills.

Characteristics and Needs of People With Intellectual Disability Who Have Higher IQs

This study investigated the issues that families consider when making decisions regarding postsecondary education (PSE) for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Survey respondents were 108 family members of transition-aged students with intellectual disabilities. Although respondents were generally positive about PSE programs, they reported that educators' attitudes were less supportive. Respondents identified many barriers that prevent their understanding of PSE options, but a lack of information and guidance was the barrier cited by the most respondents. When considering PSE options, respondents were most concerned about student safety, and they considered a focus on employment to be the most important program component. Continued research is needed to investigate the factors critical in developing successful PSE programs for students with intellectual disabilities.