A Research Project of the New England ADA Center Presented at the Regional Academic Symposium on Advancing College Readiness Friday, April 25, 2008 Oce Harrison, Ed.D. Director, DBTAC-New England ADA Center Post-Secondary Success of Secondary Education High School Graduates:

The New England Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Center (Region 1) Funded by US Department of Education through National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Funded by US Department of Education through National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research One of 10 Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers regionally located and connected by a toll-free number: One of 10 Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers regionally located and connected by a toll-free number: Portland St. Boston, MA

Ten Regional DBTAC-ADA Centers

ADA Center Services Explain the law to the public via: (Voluntary Compliance) Technical Assistance by phone Technical Assistance by phone , fax or Training (in-person, audio and web) Training (in-person, audio and web) Publications downloaded from our website Publications downloaded from our website

New England ADA Center Research Activities In addition to core services, regional ADA Centers engage in unique research activities. In addition to core services, regional ADA Centers engage in unique research activities. In New England, our research partner is the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. In New England, our research partner is the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Research Goal is tailored to regional needs: Improve education and employment outcomes for students with disabilities in the region. Research Goal is tailored to regional needs: Improve education and employment outcomes for students with disabilities in the region.

New England Research Activities 1 The college labor market and persons with disabilities (National Survey of College Graduates) 2 The structure, levels and growth of regional, state and local sub-area industry/occupation mix and occupational characteristics (ONET) 3 High school students with disabilities: college enrollment, retention, and graduation (SIMS and NTLS) 4 Annual publication: The New England Labor Market and People with Disabilities, with a special topic section in the first publication focusing on the older workforce in New England in relation to workers with disabilities

Most prevalent causes of disability in children 3-21 in the US … 1. Specific learning disabilities – 44.4% 2. Speech/language impairments– 16.9% 3. Intellectual disability - 9.2% 4. Emotional disturbance – 7.4% (source: U.S. DoE, , IDEA) (source: U.S. DoE, , IDEA)

Proportion of students in post- secondary ed with a disability … Any disability*11.3% * Includes students who self reported having a “long-lasting” condition such as blindness, deafness, or a severe vision or hearing impairment, a condition that limits “one or more of the basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying,” or who responded they had any other physical, mental or emotional condition that lasted 6 or more months and who had difficulty doing on of the following five activities: getting to school, getting around campus, learning, dressing or working at a job.” SOURCE: U.S. DOE, National Center for Education Statistics (2006). Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Education Institutions: 2003—04 NOTE: 2.3% in % in 1998

Proportion of students in post- secondary ed with a disability … Who don’t self-identify? XX%

New Resources of the New England ADA Project A systematic method for targeting growing jobs and employers and matching them with local college programs graduating students with disabilities who can fill those jobs. A systematic method for targeting growing jobs and employers and matching them with local college programs graduating students with disabilities who can fill those jobs. Videos: Succeeding in College and Work: Students with Disabilities Tell Their Stories Videos: Succeeding in College and Work: Students with Disabilities Tell Their Stories Web courses: Web courses:  ADA Title I: Employment Basics  Title III Public Accommodations  Universal Design and Work Spaces

The New England ADA Center located in Region 1, is a project of Adaptive Environments (AE) in Boston. AE is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the experiences of people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design. Phone: Portland St. Boston, MA 02114

Adaptive Environments

What is universal design…inclusive design…design-for-all? A framework for the design of places, things, information, communication and policy that focuses on the user, on the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate design… or Human centered design (of everything) with everyone in mind with everyone in mind

Design is powerful and profoundly influences our daily lives and our sense of confidence, comfort, and control. Design is powerful and profoundly influences our daily lives and our sense of confidence, comfort, and control. Variation in ability is ordinary, not special, Variation in ability is ordinary, not special, and affects most of us for some part of our lives. and affects most of us for some part of our lives. Two core ideas... Adaptive Environments

To Learn More About Universal design Universal design The new definition of disability The new definition of disability Changing trends in the distribution of disabilities The emergence of new disabilities The prevalence of disability in the nation's aging population ADA in relationship to universal design

To Learn More About The Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act ADA Resources such as list servs, newsletter and national ADA Symposium ADA Resources such as list servs, newsletter and national ADA Symposium Audio conferences and trainings Audio conferences and trainings Watch videos: Watch videos:  Succeeding in College and Work: Students with Disabilities Tell Their Stories

Succeeding in College and Work: Students with Disabilities Tell Their Stories Alexander SantaraValeska Danielle

THANK YOU!