Welcome to the Highered4All blog. Higher EDucation 4 All is a project of the Institute for Disability Studies at USM to explore postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. The Institute for Disabilities received a minigrant award through Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston with funding provided by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. To learn more about Higher EDucation 4 all, please visit http://www.usm.edu/ids/
The Higher EDucation Planning Council has identified several key areas that need to be addressed. These include:
conducting a postsecondary education survey with Mississippi persons with intellectual disabilities and their respective caregivers,
completing community forums to assess the overall interest in postsecondary education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities,
reviewing survey and forum data and formulate a plan of action, and
exploring all available funding options to establish Mississippi's first postsecondary education program targeting students with intellectual disabilities.
At this time, Higher EDucation 4 All needs your input! Click on "links to this post" below and post your comment. Take time and tell what is important to you. What is your viewpoint of starting a postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities? Do you agree or disagree? What recommendations do you have for a program? Etc. PLEASE end your post by letting me know who you are - student, teacher, guidance counselor, parent, etc. Thanks
Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, Coordinator
This is so needed in MS!!! Parent
ReplyDeleteI think Mississippi is moving towards a HIGHER level of education by pursuing a program of this nature. This give parents encouragement in the prolonging thought and question, What's next after high school?I feel that this post secondary program will also have an influence on high school class rooms at some point. Once school districts know that this exists, there will definitely be much conversation taking place at IEP meetings for the students who will take advantage of this post secondary program. As a parent, I am 100% for it!
ReplyDeleteWhile this is a novel idea to me, I am all for it! This will give persons with intellectual disabilities another choice for post-high school activities. Postsecondary institutions are providing a lot of "lifelong learning" programming, so why not provide the same option for persons with intellectual disabilities? Plus, what a great opportunity this will be for the students of average intellectual abilities! --a higher ed staff member
ReplyDeleteThis is a very exciting time for the state of Mississippi. Higher Education 4 All is greatly needed. It will provide another option for students with intellectual disabilities as well as educate staff, personal, and students at the postsecondary level. As an educator at the high school level, I am for IT!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are ALL intellectually challenged in some way or another, so why discriminate? This is a great idea but must be thoughtfully integrated into the existing HE infrastructure by beefing up support services, increasing funding for writing center and perhaps speaking center, counseling center, etc. We must be sure that the students are more-than-adequately supported so that they are successful!
ReplyDeleteI am a student, and I think this is a great idea! Teaching students with disabilities skills that they can use in life and in a career would be great for them. Not only will it improve self-esteem, it will give these students a chance to see their capabilities. Often I think those with disabilities are underestimated.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful idea! This would give my daughter something to thrive towards.
ReplyDeleteThis is an opportunity for our community to embrace inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities and provide educational supports that will allow students to perform at their best academic level.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea but what about those kids who can't read? Wouldn't this be just one more thing to make them feel bad about themselves? I agree that we need to be more accepting of our awesome kids, but as the parent of a child that has a disability I think this would only make him feel worse.
ReplyDeletePost-secondary educational opportunities are needed in MS. They will provide individuals with intellectual disabilities the same spectrum of choices as other college age students. Not all students choose to go to college, but the opportunity should be the same for all students. This opportunity would also open up other marketable services that MS community colleges, colleges and universities could provide. Sounds like a "WIN" for everybody involved!! - a state agency/professional staff member
ReplyDeleteThis will be a dream come true for someone's son or daughter with an intellectual disability. It is time for a change. Think about it, what if you had a child with an intellectual disability that wanted to got to college just like his big brother or sister. Bring this dream alive for somebody's child.
ReplyDeleteI work on a university campus and would LOVE to see this. College is about way more than earning a degree - and young adults with intellectual disabilities could benefit so much from the opportunities for independence this could offer. I think many people forget how much they 'grew up' at college. That opportunity should be available to all that want the experience.
ReplyDeleteI think this needs to be a priority in our state. Unfortunately, so many of our young persons with disabilities graduate high school with a certificate of completion. They are unable to find meaningful work, volunteer or any other consistent activities. Higher education would be a new option for them. I highly support this. High School Teacher
ReplyDeleteCertainly students of all abilities should be given the opportunity to succeed as much as possible. With the right supports, a larger number of students can get a higher education and fulfill dreams to working and living independently.
ReplyDeleteYoung people face many challenges in these tough economic times. Without a good education life can be even more difficult. - Higher education staff member
ReplyDeleteThe survey should definitely include parents, teachers, students, and staff from disability support offices at community and senior colleges and universities. A broad perspective of needs of students with intellectual disabilities will provide areas of service that are currently missing or being underutilized. - Teacher
ReplyDeleteFunding would be very challenging for this venture unless a foundation or special interest group would support its work. Unfortunately state funding would not be available. Perhaps great grant writers from various agencies and colleges could create a coalition to get started on this. The sooner plans start, the sooner students will benefit. - university staff
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great program. I wish you the best as you help move this concept forward. Students with intellectual disabilities deserve to be part of the existing culture on Mississippi's universities and community colleges.
ReplyDeleteI want to go to college!!! From son with intellectual disability typed by his mother.
ReplyDelete