How to Create an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Program

Dr. Joseph B. Ryan is the Sue Stanzione Distinguished Professor of ClemsonLIFE. He is the founder and Executive Director of the LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) program, a nationally recognized college transition program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Kristina N. Randall is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Clemson University working specifically with the ClemsonLIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) program. Her research focuses on increasing post-school outcomes for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Erica Walters, Ed.S. has served as Program Director for the ClemsonLIFE Program at Clemson University for the past decade. She is a former Special Education Teacher, Behavior Interventionist, Autism Specialist, and Elementary Coordinator at the district level.

1. The Need for Post-Secondary Education Programs; 2. Types of Post-Secondary Education Programs; 3. Navigating the Application Process; 4. Promoting Campus & Community Safety for Students with Intellectual Disabilities; 5. The Importance of Mentors and Volunteers for PSE Programs; 6. The Importance of Functional Academics for Teaching Critical Life Skills; 7. Enrolling PSE Students in Traditional Coursework; 8. Importance of Employment Training and Work Experience for PSE Programs; 9. Providing Independent Living Supports; 10. Meeting the Social and Emotional Needs of Students with Intellectual Disabilities; 11. Increasing Self-Determination & Choice Making for PSE Students; 12. Community Engagement: The Inclusion of PSE Students on College Campus; 13. The Importance of Fundraising for Program Sustainability; 14. Lessons Learned from Starting a Post-Secondary Education Program ; 15. Challenges, Successes, and Transformative Practices: An Overview of a University Programme for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland