Obama's Budget Leaves Funding Unclear for Disabled College Students February 17th, 2012

President Obama's budget proposal for fiscal year 2013 may signal a murky future for a fledgling program that helps students with intellectual disabilities go to college and succeed while enrolled.

The Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grant, a five-year plan started in fiscal year 2010, was intended to be the first widespread program to track and analyze best practices for getting students with intellectual disabilities to and through college. With federal funding of about $11 million a year, 27 institutions-including the University of Kentucky and the University of Delaware-created model programs with a particular focus on vocational training students need to succeed in the job market.

By the end of the five-year plan, an estimated 6,000 students would have gone through higher education programs, earning certificates, completing internships, joining clubs and organizations, and more, program directors say. The five-year period would also be enough time to provide key data to school officials and policy analysts alike about what constitutes success for students with intellectual disabilities, including mental retardation and autism spectrum disorder.

"With these modeled programs, it's the first time we're showing the effectiveness of allowing students with intellectual disabilities to go on to college and four-year universities, and how effective they are in helping them to become more employable," says Kim Musheno, director of legislative affairs at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). "Already, just into the second year, the evaluation program part of this is showing that young adults in these college programs are much more likely to find jobs afterward. That's a very positive development."

To read more click on article source
Read More at Article Source
Thank You to our Funders!

The support of our funders and donors helps keep YO! Disabled & Proud running strong year after year. The more funding we receive, the more youth we can organize in the pursuit of their rights and education. Please Make a Donation, Keep YO! Going Strong…