Syracuse University School of Education’s Center on Disability and Inclusion (CDI) is pleased to announce it 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, Golisano Foundation. “I and the Trustees 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, CDI and the Taishoff Center will:
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment at pilot colleges and universities.
- Increase access to inclusive postsecondary education and participation in the general college curriculum for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Support improved academic, social, independent living, employment, and self-advocacy outcomes.
- Disseminate research and best practices on inclusive postsecondary education.
- Distribute materials to support program development, evaluation, and strategic planning.
- Coordinate data collection with shared outcomes for IPSE programs.
About the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation
The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the US dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation is devoted to opening doors to opportunity, changing negative perceptions and stereotypes, and forging unprecedented partnerships to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have pathways to personal dignity, independence, and the best possible expression of their abilities and talents throughout their lifetimes. Founded in 1985 by Tom Golisano—entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Paychex Inc. —the Foundation “imagines the possibilities,” advocating for families, fighting for their dignity, and giving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to thrive in their communities. With more than $60 million in gross assets, it awards about $3 million annually to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
About Syracuse University School of Education’s Center on Disability and Inclusion
The Center on Disability and Inclusion (CDI) is a disability-related research center that works to develop and implement initiatives promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of school and society, both locally and globally. While maintaining a strong research focus, CDI also serves community engagement, technical assistance, and advocacy functions through a strategic collaboration of existing centers, including the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education.