Syracuse Sun

The School of Education’s Center on Disability and Inclusion (CDI) has received a grant of $200,000 from the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities. With the award, CDI will provide technical assistance to schools and colleges in Western and Central New York to create and enhance inclusive college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to Think College, only 2% of school-age students with intellectual disability are likely to attend college after high school. Moreover, of the 472 colleges and universities in New York State, only 24 have inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs.

With more than 435 students with intellectual disability enrolled in these programs and an average of 18 students in each program, the Golisano Foundation recognizes the opportunity for CDI—along with the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, which supports InclusiveU, Syracuse University’s inclusive higher education program—to expand on its current technical assistance model to increase and enhance the availability and inclusivity of programs across Western and Central New York.

Led by a new technical assistance director, in the first year CDI will pilot technical assistance in a few select colleges and universities, with a focus on creating or enhancing accessibility, promoting inclusivity and providing support services to empower students with intellectual disability in academic and social success.

“With InclusiveU, Syracuse University has a nationally recognized model. Serving more than 100 students, this program aims to fully integrate students into all aspects of campus life including academics, internships, social experiences and residential living,” says Christy Ashby G’01, G’07, G’08, professor and director of CDI. “We are grateful to the Golisano Foundation for this generous grant, which will help us build on our expertise in disability-related research and inclusive education practice and advocacy to remove barriers that exclude people with disabilities from campus life in New York.”

“The Taishoff Center’s approach to inclusive higher education—including utilization of existing campus resources—has fundamentally shifted the way in which schools and universities serve and support students with intellectual disability,” says Beth Myers, Lawrence B. Taishoff Associate Professor of Inclusive Education and executive director of the Taishoff Center. “With this experience, CDI and the Taishoff Center are uniquely positioned to provide technical assistance to support the development and expansion of inclusive college programs.”

“Along with the trustees of the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, I am thrilled to be able to support the development and expansion of IPSE programs and supportive services,” says Erica Dayton, director of the Golisano Foundation. “The trustees and I commend Syracuse University’s recognition of the potential throughout New York State, and we look forward to watching CDI and the Taishoff Center build a community of practice and work toward setting a national example and standard for inclusion in the higher education community.”

Among services planned for the project’s first year are:

- Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment at pilot colleges.

- Increasing access to inclusive postsecondary education.

- Supporting improved academic outcomes.

- Disseminating research on best practices.

- Distributing materials for program development.

- Coordinating data collection.