Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual and Developmental

Disabilities:An Action Plan for Michigan

byMichael Bray, M.A.

Developmental Disabilities InstituteWayne State University

MCAN Annual Conference:Measuring What Matters

East Lansing, MichiganApril 30, 2012

The Postsecondary Education (PSE) for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Project was funded by a grant #20111552-00/20112200-00 awarded by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Developmental

Disabilities Council (MDDC) and completed by the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Michigan PSE Project Partners Michigan Developmental

Disabilities Council Developmental Disabilities

Institute Michigan Disability Rights

Coalition The Arc Michigan, Michigan

Alliance for Families Michigan Protection &

Advocacy Service, Inc. Michigan Community College

Association Michigan Dept. of Licensing

and Regulatory Affairs (Formerly DELEG)

The Arc of Kent County Michigan College Access

Network Ready For Life Network Michigan Department of

Community Health Parent & Advocates

Michigan PSE Project Overview

The Problem: Less than 5% of students with

intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) attend postsecondary programs such as college or technical training programs.

There are gap in the knowledge of, and preparation for, such post-high school options.

Michigan PSE Project Overview

Goals of Project: Identify existing resources to serve

students. Determine unmet needs and gaps. Identify why students are not

accessing the full array of services and supports that are available to them.

Identify unintended barriers and special problems to overcome.

Identify strategies to meet stakeholder desires and needs.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewActivities: Convened the PSE Project Planning Team. Implemented a comprehensive, statewide needs

assessment of PSE for students with ID/DD, parents, and educators in Michigan.

Developed a PSE Action Plan and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among key stakeholders.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewPSE Planning Team: The PSE Planning Team met once per month starting in December

of 2010. The Team met in Lansing/E. Lansing at the offices of the MDDC and

MDRC. Team members included representatives from various educational,

disability, & advocacy groups, as well as parents and persons with disabilities.

Meetings focused on identifying issues facing students in Michigan specifically, and how to best address those issues.

Team members were instrumental in the development of needs assessment tools and their dissemination.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewStatewide Needs Assessment: Two web-based surveys were developed:

One survey for students with ID/DD and their families. One survey for disability and education professionals.

Survey questions asked about the experiences of students, parents, & professionals with the education system – both secondary & postsecondary – and transitioning between the two: What was the transition process like for them? How did they find out about postsecondary options? What obstacles did they encounter? What strategies did they use to overcome these obstacles?

Michigan PSE Project OverviewResults of Needs Assessment: Total of 229 people completed the online student/family survey.

Avg. age of 37 years old 67% Female 81% Caucasian, 11% African-American 46% reported disabilities 53% family members 42 Counties across Michigan represented

Of those reporting disabilities: 44% multiple disabilities 21% Intellectual Disabilities 21% Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Michigan PSE Project OverviewResults of Needs Assessment: Majority of student/family respondents believed going to

college/earning a degree was important. Only 18% had taken part in any college searches or campus visit

activities. Majority of respondents were unsure if college was an option for

them. Most students had either a Certificate of Completion (27%) or did

not finish high school with any document (46%). Of those in PSE Programs, only 23% are receiving college credit. Most PSE Program participants reported not being very socially

active on their campuses.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewResults of Needs Assessment: Barriers to accessing PSE (According to students/family

members): Lack of support from teachers or counselors. Lack of transportation options. Not confident in meeting people/making friends. Not confident in skills necessary to succeed in college. Not confident that I can do well in college. Lack of money/knowledge of grants or student loans. No help from the disability support office at my school. I am afraid to go to school. Do not know where to get information on colleges.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewResults of Needs Assessment: Total of 67 people completed the online

professionals survey. Avg. age of 44 years old. 79% Female. 94% Caucasian, 3% African-American. 10% reported disabilities. 39% family members.

Majority (87%) work with students/individuals with disabilities regularly.

Michigan PSE Project Overview• Barriers identified by

students/families: Lack of support from teachers or

counselors. Lack of transportation options. Not confident in meeting

people/making friends. Not confident in skills necessary

to succeed in college. Not confident that I can do well in

college. Lack of money/knowledge of

grants or student loans. No help from the disability support

office at my school. I am afraid to go to school. Do not know where to get

information on colleges.

• Barriers identified by professionals:• Acquiring the (functional) skills

necessary to succeed in post-high school settings such as college or work.

• Knowledge of the supports and resources that exist to them in the community and on campus and how to ask for and attain them.

• Eligibility (certificate vs. diploma) and the financial aspects of higher education.

• Lack of transportation.• Lack of effective, realistic transition

planning and follow-through from secondary to postsecondary educational settings.

• Lack of support.• Lack of social skills and ability to

navigate the community/college campus socially.

Michigan PSE Project OverviewStatewide Needs Assessment: Three focus groups were conducted:

One parent focus group (6) and one student (8) focus group in Grand Rapids, Michigan

One student focus group in Oscoda, Michigan (12) Focus groups gave participants the chance

to relate their experiences and concerns in person.

Participants’ experiences were compared to the information reported by survey respondents.

Michigan PSE Project Focus Groups

Michigan PSE Project Focus Groups Students reported that:

Those who became interested in college/PSE early had someone who encouraged them to do so.

Transportation was a primary concern/obstacle. More hands-on experiences were desired, earlier on.

Campus Visits, for example. They needed more information on where to find college

resources and information. They needed more academic support to succeed. More PSE options at more Michigan schools! They were told college was not an option for them. Money for school was an issue.

Michigan PSE Action Plan

Development of Action Plan: Purpose: to address educational and

support needs of students with ID/DD. Intended to stand as a road map for

future PSE Groups and advocates. Outlines current issues to be addressed

at the individual, community, and state levels.

Offers strategies for accomplishing the goals set out in the Plan.

Recommends action to be taken to implement strategies.

Michigan PSE Action PlanAction Plan Focus Areas:1. Teacher & Staff Training2. Community Partnerships and Collaborations3. Hands-On Experiences and Opportunities for Students4. Information & Family Outreach: Create Web-Based

Information on PSE Programs in Michigan5. Transportation6. Self-Advocacy & Leadership Training for Students7. Mentoring for Students in PSE Programs8. Influence State Policy Using Evidence-Based Research

& Practice

Michigan PSE Action Plan Current PSE Team efforts include:

Conference presentations. Formation of community and professional partnerships and

collaborations. MCAN/NCAN, THINKcollege, Michigan Alliance for Families (MAF)

Training development and implementation. Increased use of web-based resources.

Website, social media, link with other PSE groups. Outreach to parents, students, and school personnel.

Work with MCAN: Currently developing training sessions.

In-person and web-based. Aim is to provide training to Local College Access

Network (LCAN) members. Training topics will include:

Working with students with disabilities. Principles of Person-Centered Planning. Self-Determination. Working with parents and advocates of students with disabilities. Local, state and national disability organizations and resources. Who to turn to in Michigan for disability-related information.

Michigan PSE Action Plan

Into the future! Michigan DD Council vital link in moving forward. Multi-level, multi-disciplinary collaboration is key in

effectively addressing the issues that students, parents and educators face.

Identifying successful transition and support strategies may offer insight into what can be used on a wider basis.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) illustrates the commitment of many Michigan organizations and entities to the importance of improving access to PSE for students with ID/DD.

PSE success will only increase in importance for individuals to be able to live independently.

MUST show PSE’s link to successful employment outcomes!

Michigan PSE Action Plan

Michigan PSE Action Plan

Helpful links: THINKcollege http://www.thinkcollege.net/ AHEAD http://www.ahead.org/ MI-TOP http://mi-top.cenmi.org/ MDRC http://www.copower.org/ E & E http://www.eeonline.org/ DDI http://ddi.wayne.edu

This presentation is available at:http://ddi.wayne.edu/MCAN.php

Michigan PSE Action Plan

Thank you!

PSE Team Coordinator:

Michael Bray

(313) 577-6684mikebray@wayne.edu http://ddi.wayne.edu

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council:(517) 334-6123http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-

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