Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Transitioning Youth and Vocational Rehabilitation
Project description
Think College is collaborating with TransCen, Inc. (lead) and other partners including the University of Maryland at College Park, and Mathematica Policy Research, to develop and implement a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Vocational Rehabilitation Practices for Youth and Young Adults. The Center is conducting five studies to provide a comprehensive, balanced, and rigorous view of the strategies, methodologies, and models of VR service for youth and young adults with disabilities in the United States. Think College is conducting a two-part research study to ascertain the role and impact of vocational rehabilitation in inclusive higher education for youth with intellectual disability and autism. This project will use mixed methods to look at the role and impact of vocational rehabilitation in inclusive higher education for youth with intellectual disability and autism including: (1) an analysis of secondary data on higher education model demonstration programs from the Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) Data Network, and (2) intensive case studies of three to five IHEs that have established effective partnerships with VR. Results of this study will inform the development of effective VR intervention and practices to support postsecondary education and employment outcomes for youth with ID and autism.
Timeline
October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2019
Funded by
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Administration for Community Living,U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grant Number: 90RT5034-02-01
Partners
The Center is a partnership of TransCen, Inc., University of Maryland-College Park, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
Principal Investigators
Meg Grigal
Debra Hart
Team
Frank Smith
John Shephard
Jennifer Sulewski
Russ Thelin
Daria Domin
Brenda Brooks
Contact
Findings
Findings will be posted as they become available.
Presentations and Publications
Grigal, M., Hart, D., & Smith, F. (2016). DCDT Conference - The role and impact of vocational rehabilitation in inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability and autism-Presentation at the Division on Career Development and Transition Conference Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Whaley, B., Baccanti, D., James, E., Knab, J., Robb, D. (2016). Building Effective Vocational Rehabilitation Partnerships in Inclusive Higher Education. Presentation at the 2016 State of the Art Conference on Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Fairfax, VA.
Grigal, M., & Smith, F. (2016) Vocational Rehabilitation Partnerships with Higher Education Programs Serving Students with Intellectual Disability. VR and Youth Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Fast Facts, Issue No. 01. Rockville, MD: TransCen, Inc
Grigal, M., Whaley, B. (2016). What is inclusive higher education for people with intellectual disabilities, and how does it connect to vocational rehabilitation? A primer for VR leaders and practitioners. VR and Youth Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Practice Brief, Issue No. 01. Rockville, MD: TransCen, Inc.