Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability

Date: November 7, 2012
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Content
The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) task force has been working for the past two years to increase understanding and communication between postsecondary Disability Resource Centers and people invested in developing higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. This webinar covers the following topics:

(1) The role of Disability Resource in supporting students with intellectual disabilities

(2) The range of programs available currently in postsecondary education & the need for more

(3) Other projects that AHEAD's task force is engaged in pursuing: white paper, position statement

Speakers
Karen Pettus, PhD
Dr. Pettus is the Director of Disability Services for the University of South Carolina. Prior to her employment at the university in 1994, she was a special education teacher with over 20 years experience in public schools. Dr. Pettus was co-PI of a grant in 2009 that began the CarolinaLIFE (Learning is for Everyone) Program for students with intellectual disabilities. Karen has her Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Research from the University of South Carolina. In addition to her role in Disability Services, Karen teaches courses in Educational Psychology, Disability Studies and University 101 with CarolinaLIFE students enrolled in her course. Karen serves on numerous advisory boards in the community and for the State of South Carolina, she also serves on AHEAD’s Task Force on Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Postsecondary Education.

Tom L. Thompson
Tom is a retired Director of Disability of Access and Disability Services from Harper College and a former Rehabilitation Counselor. He holds a Master's Degree in Communication Disorders/Counseling and an undergraduate degree in Psychology/Philosophy. He is a former Board member of AHEAD and an educational consultant working with higher education institutions about program evaluation/development, universal design, accessibility and resource development. He is the current chair of AHEAD's Task Force on Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Postsecondary Education and Chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education's Disabilities Advisory Committee.