A major goal of the NDSS Riggio Transition and Postsecondary Education Initiative is to support the development of postsecondary options in a state with the coordinated support of state agencies, colleges and universities, and individuals with disabilities and their families. The following examples highlight successful system change efforts and provide a template for ensuring that broad-based stakeholder support is generated, collaboration is promoted, and a plan is put in place for sustained funding. The goal of each of these state-wide projects is to develop model, inclusive, replicable programs and to encourage systems change to improve education for students with intellectual disabilities.
Postsecondary Education Systems Change: New Jersey
Through a generous grant from the Riggio Family, NDSS provided a three-year grant to two colleges in New Jersey to develop model postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. These awards were made to the following institutions in 2005:
- The College of New Jersey, a four-year college
- Mercer County Community College, a two-year college
The first year of the grant was a planning year, which provided funding for the two colleges to create postsecondary programs from the ground up. This was followed by funding for the first two academic years of the programs.
A steering committee, including broad-based representation from various state agencies and experts in higher education and special education, researched successful approaches to postsecondary education and expected outcomes, and developed a Request for Proposals (RFP) based on that information. While NDSS and the Steering Committee outlined several guidelines and expected outcomes for the programs in the RFP, each of the two colleges has taken their own approach to postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Each program is well embedded into the culture and community of its college and therefore each program is unique.
Postsecondary Education Systems Change: South Carolina
NDSS developed a partnership with the College Transition Connection (CTC), an organization of families and professionals in South Carolina dedicated to providing postsecondary and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and the Center for Disability Resources (CDR), the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in South Carolina. In this partnership, NDSS provided technical expertise and grant administration for the project. CTC provided state and local expertise, raised over $300,000 and convinced the South Carolina General Assembly to provide a total of approximately $1.5 million over several years to fund the programs, and CDR provided a part-time staff person and expertise on topics such as peer mentors and person-centered planning. The project created a task force that includes key state agency representatives, individuals with disabilities, parents and other professionals.
The Task Force reviewed the NDSS New Jersey RFP and prepared a revised RFP for the South Carolina projects. This RFP was sent to all institutions of higher education in the state. An invitation-only Roundtable, sponsored by NDSS, CTC, CDR and the Developmental Disability Council, provided an opportunity for the Task Force, colleges and universities to hear from national experts about this topic and learn more about the RFP.
The first three-year grant was awarded to the University of South Carolina, Columbia to start a program beginning in the fall of 2008. Subsequent grants were awarded to Clemson University in January 2009, to Coastal Carolina University and to Winthrop University in the fall of 2009, and the College of Charleston in the fall of 2010.
For more information about the development of these five projects in South Carolina, read LIFE: Learning is For Everyone, by Donald A. Bailey, Executive Director of the College Transition Connection.
Postsecondary Education Systems Change: Tennessee
Several years ago, NDSS organized a state-wide Government Affairs Committee (GAC) in Tennessee. During the initial GAC leadership conference, one of the top priority areas identified by the advocates was to develop postsecondary opportunities in the state. We continued to assist our TN advocates as they developed relationships with the key state agency leaders. This resulted in an invitation-only conference sponsored by our Tennessee Down Syndrome organizations, the Developmental Disability Council, and the Vanderbilt UCEDD, and attended by a number of colleges and representatives of all relevant state agencies. NDSS presented at the meeting and helped recruit other national experts. The result was a task force that agreed to work together on this effort and sent representatives to visit the NDSS New Jersey model programs. Subsequently, the Tennessee Developmental Disability Council announced it would provide $525,000 over three years to develop model programs in the state and the grant was awarded to Vanderbilt University.
NDSS Technical Assistance
The NDSS frequently speaks at national and state conferences on postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Examples include Council for Exceptional Children, National Down Syndrome Congress, Association of University Centers on Developmental Disabilities conferences; and speeches in Florida, Ohio, California, Colorado and other states.
NDSS Resources
External Resources