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The Autism College Connection

Video: Can Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Attend College? Yes.

Can students with intellectual and developmental disabilities go to college? Yes, and the options are growing fast. There are now about 360 college programs in the U.S. for students with intellectual disability, up from 149 in 2009.

In this video, autism policy expert and advocate Laura McKenna, PhD, explains what these programs are, who they’re for, how to get in, and how to pay for them. She also walks through programs in New Jersey, the Northeast, and around the country.

This video is for parents of students with an intellectual or developmental disability, and for the teachers, case managers, and transition coordinators who help families plan for life after high school.

What you’ll learn:

  • What inclusive college programs offer: classes, campus jobs, campus life, and a certificate
  • Whether a program is a good fit for your child or student
  • Admissions: what to expect and when to start
  • Paying for it: federal financial aid (CTP programs), New Jersey DDD and DVRS, and other funding
  • Why “stacking” programs, with college starting at 21, can make sense
  • Programs to know: TCNJ, Georgian Court, Bergen Community College’s Turning Point, Syracuse InclusiveU, and more
  • Questions to ask on a tour
  • Five next steps you can take this month

Resources:

About Laura: Laura McKenna, PhD, is the founder of McKenna Autism Consulting. She’s a former college professor and special education teacher, and she writes about education and disability for The Atlantic, HuffPost, and other outlets. She’s also an autism mom.

Program details, costs, and deadlines change every year, so check each program’s website before you apply. This video is general information, not legal or financial advice.

Chapters

These times are estimates from the speaker notes. Replace them with the real times after you record. YouTube only shows chapters if the first one starts at 0:00.

0:00 Introduction
3:00 The short answer: yes
5:00 What is a college program for students with IDD?
7:00 Is it the right fit?
9:30 Getting in
11:30 Paying for it
14:00 Stack programs: college can start at 21
15:30 New Jersey and Northeast programs
18:30 Case study: Bergen CC’s Turning Point
20:30 One parent’s perspective
21:30 More programs in the Northeast
23:00 Nationally known programs
24:30 Do these programs work?
26:30 How to judge a program
28:30 Five next steps
29:30 Keep learning

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