MLA 2024 Conference

In the 2018-2019 academic year, the State of Minnesota began providing additional financial aid for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Grants for Students with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (ID Grant) program. However, the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) highlighted additional barriers for these students which included lack of postsecondary education options, limited capacity in Minnesota’s three existing Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs, and limited funding. In the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session, the State acted to address these barriers. In fall 2023, the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI) entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) to establish a technical assistance center (TA Center) to create self-sustaining education options across the state for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to earn postsecondary credentials. OHE in collaboration with the TA Center will host a competitive request for application in spring of 2024 for institutions who will be launching these programs.
The State of Minnesota is specifically addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education by establishing the TA Center. The focus of the TA Center will be to expand higher education enrollment to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who historically have not had options to pursue higher education. The establishment of CTP programs will allow these students to access federal financial aid, Minnesota state aid, and other funding sources for students with disabilities (example: Vocational Rehabilitation and waiver funding).
During this session, attendees will learn about how libraries can support postsecondary institutions in building their capacity to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Attendees will also learn about how libraries can help students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families access postsecondary programs and student financial aid.