In Colorado Initiative For Inclusive Higher Education

DEVELOP COLLEGE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

IN SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN COLORADO. PRIOR TO IN'S INCEPTION, COLLEGE PATHWAYS WERE NOT AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS WITH ID IN COLORADO. IN 2021 THERE ARE THREE PATHWAYS: ELEVATE - ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, GOAL - UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO AND THE OFFICE OF INCLUSIVE SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - COLORADO SPRINGS. IN THE 2020/2021 SCHOOL YEAR, 71 STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ARE ENROLLED ACROSS THE PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON 4 AREAS: ACADEMIC GROWTH, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INDEPENDENCE, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. THROUGH 2021 THERE HAVE BEEN 15 GRADUATES EARNING CERTIFICATES IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, COMMUNICATIONS, PHOTOJOURNALISM, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HUMAN SERVICES AND ADVOCACY. FURTHER IN 2021, IN COMPLETED A STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE BARRIERS FACED BY RESIDENTS OF COLORADO IN ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION. SPECIFIC ASSESSMENTS WERE COMPLETED TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO STUDENTS OF COLOR, VARYING SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND THOSE WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

IN OVERSEES AND LEADS THE COLORADO INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM,. THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE WORKING TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE COLLEGE ACCESS IN COLORADO. IN, CURRENT COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS, JFK PARTNERS, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION (CDHE), COLORADO DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (DVR) MEET TO SHARE PROGRESS AND DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES AND CONDUCT THE PROGRAM EVALUATION. THE CONSORTIUM HAS ESTABLISHED A STATEWIDE CREDENTIAL RECOGNIZED BY CDHE FOR STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION, WORKED TO GAIN REQUIRED STATUS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FINANCIAL AID.

THE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON COLLABORATIONS WITH PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, K-12 EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REDEFINE EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITES AND BREAK DOWN FALSE STEREOTYPES THAT STUDENTS WITH ID CANNOT ATTEND COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM WORKS TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT COLLEGE IS A REALISTIC GOAL FOR STUDENTS WITH ID, HIGHLIGHTING THE OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE IN COLORADO. THE PROGRAM PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON ENGAGING WITH PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WITH ID AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE COLLEGE PROGRAMS IN COLORADO AND WHAT THE NEEDED STEPS ARE TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, INCLUDING EARLY INCLUSION, ACADEMIC PREPARATION, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND SOCIAL INDEPENDENCE.