POSTER TEMPLATE BY: War Veterans with Disabilities in Higher Education: The Need for Research and Evidence-Based Practices Tom Dell Ph.D., CRC, LCPC, Amber McDermott, M.A., ABD, & Lacey Habener, B.A. College of Allied Health Professions, Montana State University - Billings Abstract & Purpose Relevant Literature Conclusions Implications for Research and Practice References Contact information Based on current scholarly literature, this presentation identifies the increasing trends of veterans with disabilities from Iraq and Afghanistan Wars enrolling in higher education. Additionally, this presentation will highlight the need for additional research for evidence-based practices and policies for higher education administrators, faculty, and support services providers for this population of students with disabilities. National Center for Education Statistics (2009). Digest of statistics: 2009, Table 231. Retrieved October 26, 2010 from: asp?referrer=list National Council on Disability (2003). People with disabilities in postsecondary education: A position paper. Retrieved from: United States Department of Veteran Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. (2011). Education program beneficiaries [Table]. Retrieved March 23, 2013 from: United States Government Accountability Office (2009). Higher education and disability: Education Needs a coordinated approach to improve its assistance to schools in supporting students. Retrieved December 30,2011 from: [Untitled photograph of female student veteran]. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from: education-call-service.aspx Tom Dell Ph.D., CRC, LCPC Assistant Professor Absaruke Room  Enrollment of freshman with disabilities rose from 3% percent in 1978 to more than 11% in 2003 and that these numbers continue to increase (National Council on Disability [NDC], 2003)  Increase in the variety of types of disabilities among college students as federal definitions of disability broaden to include:  Hearing impairments  Speech impairments  Orthopedic impairments  Learning impairments  Health-related impairments  Visual impairments  Other disability-related conditions (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2003; NCES, 2009).  Increased numbers of students with disabilities in higher education resulted from Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (NCD, 2003, United States Government Accountability Office [GAO], 2009)  5 historical events in the recent history of higher education that increased access to higher education for students with disabilities: 1.Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) 2.Disabilities Amendments Act 3.Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) 4.No Child Left Behind Act of Increase of soldiers with disabilities resulting injuries from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (GAO, 2009). This study focuses on the increasing trend of veterans with disabilities from injuries during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who may, or may not, be using the Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) for funding of their education. Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans with disabilities, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), are returning to college using the New GI Bill (2008) (GAO,2009). Additional research for evidence-based practices and policies for higher education administrators, faculty, and support services providers are needed to better serve this population of students with disabilities.  As the number of veterans with disabilities utilizing the higher education benefits increases, so does the need to identify the specific types of disabilities and provide appropriate support services.  Development of evidence-based practices is a must and should include:  Obtaining a comprehensive knowledge of each type of disability present within the student veteran population  New and better evaluation strategies to assess the needs of the student veteran population for physical and educational accommodations in higher education Department of Veterans Affairs Education Program Beneficiaries: FY2000 to FY2011 Fiscal YearTotal Beneficiaries Program Name MGIB-AD TraineesMGIB-SR TraineesDEA TraineesVEAP TraineesREAP TraineesPost- 9/11 Trainees ,589279,94870,29944,8202, ,651289,77182,28346,9171, ,159323,16585,76653,8881, ,970321,83788,34261, ,397332,03188,65068, ,498336,34787,16174, ,123332,18466,10575, , ,344343,75160,29877, , ,439354,28462,39080, , ,487341,96963,46981, ,88134, ,369247,10567,37389, ,269365, ,836185,22065,21690, ,302555,329 Note: State statistics may include individuals who used their education benefits in more than one state. Therefore the national totals in the Annual Benefits Report summary statistics (Appendix table) should not be used to reflect the total number of beneficiaries during the fiscal year as these counts are calculated as the sum total of the state statistics. Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Annual Benefits Reports, 2000 to Prepared by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Definitions: MGIB-AD The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 30 of Title 38, U.S. Code) which provides educational assistance to persons who served on active duty in the Armed Forces. MGIB-SR The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606 of Title 10, U.S. Code) which provides educational assistance to members of the Selected Reserve or the Ready Reserve of any of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. DEA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assitance (DEA) – Under Chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S. Code, a monetary educational benefit payable to eligible dependents and survivors of Veterans. VEAPThe Veterans Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32 of Title 38, U.S. Code) is a contributory educational assistance program for Post-Vietnam Era Veterans. REAP The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607 of Title 10, U.S. Code) which provides educational assistance to members of the Guard and Reserves who serve on active duty in support of a contingency operation under federal authority on or after September 11, Post- 9/11 The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33, sections , of Title 38, U.S. Code) is a new educational assistance program, effective August 1, 2009, which provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Amber McDermott, M.A., ABD Assistant Professor Absaruke Room