Think College Webinar

In a world full of talk about jobs, credentials, apprenticeships, and the expansion of work opportunities, how do higher education programs for students with ID hook into the conversation and increase their capacity to provide access to meaningful credentials. We start with the basics: what are credentials and what are the different types? How do they work? Who offers them? Join Bryan Wilson, Director of the Workforce Data Quality Campaign, a project of the National Skills Coalition, to learn more about credentials and what they can mean for students with intellectual disabilities.

In higher education, credentials are awarded to demonstrate that individuals have achieved the completion a program of studies or mastery of a set of competencies. Currently, there is no standard approach to offering meaningful credentials to students who are attending college through a program for students with intellectual disability (ID). In this session, we present data on the extent to which colleges and universities are offering credentials to students with ID and the types available.

Participants will take a fresh look at family engagement in postsecondary education programs from a parent perspective. Parents and program staff will explore strategies for effective family engagement practices in light of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements, self-determination, and evidence on the importance of continuing parental involvement and support for young adults with ID/DD.

Prior to 2013, there were limited postsecondary education options in Pennsylvania. Donna Partin, parent of young adult with an intellectual disability, wanted to create a network of college programs in Pennsylvania. Donna’s vision led to the creation of the DREAM Partnership. Today, the DREAM Partnership has assisted in the development and expansion of 8 postsecondary programs in Pennsylvania.

For students who support their peers academically in inclusive college programs, building strategies is often a learning process. This webinar will introduce an open video resource being developed for Think College by a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who supports students with intellectual disability in their classes. The video series shares tips and strategies that other students can use as peer supports or mentors.