Funded by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, College Matters is a five-part series of 1-hour conversations for secondary and postsecondary education personnel focusing on postsecondary education for students with IDD. Each speaker event will address a unique aspect of improving the pathways to success. Facilitated by Think College staff, and featuring a short presentation by a content expert, the series will provide participants with strategies to prepare and support students with IDD for college success and will allow time for discussion and resource sharing.
College Matters is designed to cover a broad range of topics critical to achieving successful postsecondary education in Florida. All sessions will be relevant to both secondary and postsecondary personnel, as well as anyone interested in promoting higher education for students with IDD!
How will this speaker series benefit me?
College Matters is intended to:
Featured speakers will include content experts from both across the country and within Florida, as well as staff from Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston.
Preparing secondary students and parents for higher education including financing, changing roles, and FERPA.
Session one of the five-part “College Matters” speaker series features content expert L. Danielle Roberts-Dahm, Ph.D., Co-Director of Project 10: Transition Education Network, who shares strategies for preparing secondary students and parents for higher education including financing, changing roles, and The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Promoting inclusive postsecondary options with transition stakeholders including students and families, IEP team members, and adult service entities.
Speakers Cate Weir of the Think College, Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore of the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, Tosha Littles of the Parent Support Network, and Maria Paiewonsky, also from Think College, share strategies and resources to promote inclusive postsecondary options with transition stakeholders including students and families, IEP team members, and adult service entities.
Developing IEPs that support college-based services including transition assessments, measurable postsecondary and annual goals, and Summary of Performance.
Session three features Maria Paiewonsky, Program Manager and Transition Specialist with ThinkCollege, who shares strategies for developing IEPs that support college-based transition services including transition assessments, measurable postsecondary and annual goals, and Summary of Performance.
Orienting students, parents, and professionals to academic and campus supports including disability and academic support services, the role of peer mentors/tutors, and other resources.
Session four features Dr. Kathleen Becht, Technical Assistance Coordinator with ThinkCollege. Dr. Becht has lived, taught, and advocated in the field of Exceptional Education for over 35 years with a passion for the self-determination of students with disabilities. Kathy works to inspire the literate citizenship of individuals with intellectual disability; as consumers, employees, neighbors, college students, and life-long learners.
Acquainting students, parents, and professionals to non-academic campus resources including residential life, student life such as extracurricular activities, and work options to support student success
Session five features Dr. Kelly R. Kelley, Director of the University Participant (UP) Program at Western Carolina University and Associate Professor of Inclusive Special Education. This session shares strategies for including students with IDD in non-academic campus resources including residential life, student life such as extracurricular activities, and work options to support student success.