Fund for the Improvement
of Postsecondary Education
‘O ke kahua ma mua,
ma hope ke kukulu
first the foundation,
then the building

‘O ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kukulu

“The foundation first, and then the building”

Disability and Diversity: Demonstrating Effective Practices for Improving Access to, Retention in, and Completion of Postsecondary Education by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth with Disabilities.

Project Overview

Youth with disabilities, especially those of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds, experience limited access to and success in postsecondary education programs, resulting in poor career and employment outcomes (Stodden & Dowrick, 2000b); NCSPES, 2000a). This population consists of a growing number of youth nationally (Census, 2000), and involves those of most significant need (low socio-economic status, English as a second language, first generation to consider postsecondary education, cultural/family differences, and significant disability). For this population, the complexities of the transition from secondary school to postsecondary education are confounded by the challenges of self-advocacy and other adult role expectations. These complexities can be delineated and addressed within three phases of coordinated transition activities: (1) preparation and linkage activities, (2) reception activities, and (3) ongoing educational and related support activities. The proposed project will refine, develop, and evaluate coordinated transition activities within each phase thus significantly increasing access, retention, and success of CLD students with disabilities in postsecondary education.

Activities will be implemented within a support network consisting of personnel from the Offices of Student Services and Supports (cultural, economic, linguistic, disability supports & services), transition personnel in partnering postsecondary and secondary educational settings, and participants “circles of support”. The project will facilitate the development and implementation of three sets of coordinated strategies bridging or linking support programs in secondary and postsecondary education settings, as well as disability and diversity supports as provided within those two settings. The strategies are structured and designed to improve the coordination and provision of disability and cultural support options for CLD youth with disabilities, while empowering them to self-advocate/determine within the support framework. To achieve the overall goal of this project, three postsecondary educational programs (University of Hawaii, University of Minnesota, San Diego State University) will serve as partnership hubs for project implementation. Participants within each partnership will include junior and senior high school students with a desire to continue their education be it at a 2-year postsecondary program, continuing education program, GED program, 4-year institution, or vocational training program.

Products

See Brochure

Website

Funded by

This project is sponsored in part by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education.

Resources

FIPSE

U.S. Department of Education

Conferences and Institutes

CDS-Wide Events Listing

Personnel

Principle Investigator: Dr. Robert Stodden
Project Coordinator: Kelly D. Roberts
Graduate Assistant: Kawehi Napeahi

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