Act Now to Save Funding for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

In October 2010, Pathway received a grant from the US Dept of Education to expand our program by creating a one-year transition program to prepare students with intellectual disabilities for further postsecondary education.

Congress is currently considering two budgets: one to fund programs for the rest of the current year (fiscal year 2011) and one to provide funding for the next fiscal year (2012).

The President’s funding proposal for next year (FY 2012) would consolidate or mix the program into another program. Advocates are concerned that if that happens we could lose the focus on serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.

We need your help to make sure the funding is specifically targeted for students with intellectual disabilities.

TAKE ACTION:
• Contact your Senators, in person or by phone/email with the following message:

Please support funding to continue the Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education (TPSID) and the TPSID National Coordinating Center by the Office of Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education. These demonstration projects are developing models of effective ways to ensure that students with intellectual disabilities have access to postsecondary education and increased employment outcomes. These programs should be protected and supported in the FY 2011 and FY 2012 funding bills.

If calling by phone, use the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of your Members.

BACKGROUND and DETAIL:
Students with intellectual disabilities are the least likely to attend college or become employed after exiting high school. However, youth with intellectual disabilities who participate in postsecondary education are 26% more likely to be employed and earn a 73% higher weekly income (Migliore, Butterworth, & Hart 2008).

In October of 2010, 27 model demonstration projects called Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education, or TPSIDs, were funded to fulfill Congress’ intent to develop inclusive college options for students with intellectual disabilities as stipulated in the Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008.

These 27 TPSID programs demonstrate new models of promising practices in 23 states for students with intellectual disabilities. The TPSID program also funded a National Coordinating Center charged with supporting these programs, developing evaluation systems and model standards and identifying and disseminating evidence based practices to institutes of higher education via a broad national network. See thinkcollege.net for more information on the programs.