College Options with Students with Intellectual and Developmental

Disabilities

Margo Vreeburg Izzo, Ph.D.Izzo.1@osu.edu

OSU Nisonger Center

Project Goals

Develop, test and refine a statewide model that delivers inclusive postsecondary options including participation in:

• college classes

• internships

• housing/healthy living

• social experiences

Today’s Objectives

1. Provide an update on OSU’s TOPS postsecondary program

2. Share alignment with the Governor’s Employment First Order

3. Share THINKCOLLEGE Standards, Quality Indicators*a) Academic Access

b) Career Development

c) Self-determination

d) Campus Membership

4. Share updates and ideas on the student selection, courses and internships

5. Share information about the Requests for Replication Sites RFP

*http://www.thinkcollege.net/images/stories/TC_Standards_Site_Visit_Instrument_11-1-11.pdf

College & Career Ready: Call to Action

• Higher expectations of all stakeholders• 21st Century Skills (CCS leading to CCR)

– Grades 8 – 12: Transition-focused Curricula– Grades 13 – 16: PSE Programs

• Transition-focused curricula delivered in inclusive settings (i.e. EnvisionIT)

• Continue evidence-based policies/practices(i.e. NSTTAC, Think College, IES….)

• Technology utilization (AT – LMS)• Expand interagency collaboration/blended funding

4

Governor Kasich’s Executive Order Employment First

• Established community employment and school-to-work transition as priorities

• PwDD have the right to make informed decisions about where they work

• Improve and coordinate efforts to increase community employment outcomes

• Less than 6% of DD adult service funds spent on integrated employment services.

Who Should Go To College?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=auIYOb_rptQ

• Over 200 colleges in over 30 states are enrolling students with IDD

• Insert screen shot of video opening picture

Who are Students with ID?

• The term ‘student with an intellectual disability’ means a student:

(A) with mental retardation or a cognitive impairment, characterized by significant limitations in:

• (i) intellectual and cognitive functioning; and• (ii) adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical

adaptive skills; and

(B) who is currently, or was formerly, eligible for a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Who are Students with DD?

Developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability that:

• is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments

• is manifested before the person reaches age 22

• is likely to continue indefinitely

• results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity - Self-care - Receptive and expressive language - Learning - Mobility - Self-direction - Capacity for independent living - Economic self-sufficiency

• include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or other neurological conditions when such conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with an intellectual disability

Transitions Options in PSE Settings (TOPS) Pilot Sites

Xavier University

University of Toledo

Ohio State University

Kent State

OSU’s TOPS Model

Interdisciplinary TeamSpecial Educators, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Rehab Counselors, Speech Language Therapists, Social Workers, Assistive Tech. Specialist

Pilot Sites

Ohio State University University of Toledo Three Replication Sites

Services Planned Through

Transition Assessment Person-Centered Planning Academic Advising

Services Planned ThroughTransition Assessment

Person-Centered PlanningAcademic Advising

Pilot SitesOhio State UniversityUniversity of Toledo

Xavier University

TOPS (con’t)

Inclusive Postsecondary Campus Experience

Self-Determination

Health, Wellness & Independent

Living skills

Enroll/Audit College Courses

Project SEARCH Internships

Residential Campus Experiences

Individualized Supports

Peer Support Mentoring Family Support Educational/Job

Coaching

E-Portfolio

Each student exits the program with an e-portfolio that documents academic

employment and independent living skills through digital pictures, video and documents.

Individualized SupportsMentoring

Family SupportEducational/Job

CoachingPeer Support

E-PortfolioEach student exits the program with an e-portfolio that documents academic employment and independent living skills through digital pictures, video and documents.

TOPS Program UpdateEvette Simmons-Reed and Kristall J. Day

Think College Standards:

1.Academic Access

2.Career Development/Project SEARCH

3.Campus Membership

4.Self-Determination

5.College Systems and Practices

6.Sustainability

1. Academic Access

Arts & Sciences 5191/SLC

• Inclusive internship class offered through Disability Studies:

• TOPS students– Service learning– Study strategies and computer skills (Carmen and

Google Calendar)– Employability Skills– Job Search Skills (resume, interviewing, etc.)

2. Career Development:Project SEARCH = Employment

• Employment for each Project SEARCH

intern:

– Discovery - assessments and observations

– Unpaid internships – three rotations

– Student employment (20 hrs. per week)

– Permanent employment

JOBS at OSU

• Total Employees 41,921

• Sample Positions:

• Tenure Faculty 2,930

• A & P Staff 16,710

• Civil service 5,277

• Student employees 13,680

Employment

• Employment for each Project SEARCH intern– 20 hours a week or more

– Minimum wage or better

– Integrated Setting

– Non-Seasonal

• Culture Change at the host businesses – Recognize gifts and value of young interns

– Open to hiring people with disabilities

Cashier – Season’s Café

3. Campus Membership

• Student Organizations: Student CEC, Buckeye Connections, Mentoring Hub & Men’s Swim Team

• Mentors and Volunteers assist by Working out at RPAC Eating lunch together Attending campus events Mentoring events

-“Spread the word, end the word”

Campus Membership

• Use my Buck ID• Use RPAC pass to workout• Completed several internships successfully and obtained student

employment !!– Campus Grinds

• Completed EDUPAES 270.01: Self Career Development• Enrolled in Music 288: R&B and Hip Hop• Meet with my educational coach two times a week • Independently navigate from internship to classes, meetings, and the RPAC• RPAC- Work out two times a week with Michelle and Jonathan• Meet regularly with Taylor for lunch• Friends made on campus

4. Self-Determination

• Person-centered Planning Meetings

Student-directed meetingsSelf-advocacy plans developed/practicedCourses selected based on interest/need Internships selected based on preferences/skillsQuarterly goals established E-portfolio and Digital Stories

•

Self-Determination

• Students Build and Manage a Network of Supports– Individualized supports

• Google Calendar• Facebook page• Texting using iPad/iPod Phones

5. Alignment with College Systems

• OSU Administrative Committee– Meet monthly to align TOPS with OSU’s institutional

policies• Diversity and Inclusion Policy• Credit hour guidelines• Financial Planning and Analysis• Establishment of Fee Structure (Buck ID, RPAC,

Library, etc.)

6. Sustainability

Federal, State & Private Blended Funding

1. TOPS: 10/10 – 9/15

2. IDEA funding: Project SEARCH

3. RSC: Services approved in IPE

4. VRP3 - PSE Project SEARCH

5. DD Funding: waiver programs

6. TOPS Development Fund

7. Private Pay

Blended Funding Sources

• Education Funding– IDEA, State & Local Tax Levies

• DD/Rehabilitation Funding– DODD State Subsidy and Local DD Tax Levies– Rehab Case Service Dollars– Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers

• Other– Private Pay, Grants, Scholarships, Other

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National Resources1. Think College – www.thinkcollege.net2. National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center:

www.nsttac.org3. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth:

www.ncwd-youth.info/The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook

4. National Center for Secondary Education and Transition: www.ncset.org See Youthhood

5. Association of Higher Ed and Disability: www.ahead.org6. Fast Facts for Faculty: Fact sheets on 12 different topics:

http://ada.osu.edu/resources/fastfacts/index.htm7. FAME: http://fame.oln.org/